Agricultural and Forest Entomology (2020) 22, 224-230

Mayara C. Lopes, Thiago L. Costa, Rodrigo S. Ramos, Elizeu S. Farias, Lucas P. Arcanjo, Arthur V. Ribeiro, Abraão A. Santos and Marcelo C. Picanço (2020)
Parasitoid associated with Liriomyza huidobrensis (Diptera: Agromyzidae) outbreaks in tomato fields in Brazil
Agricultural and Forest Entomology 22 (3), 224-230
Abstract: - The knowledge of natural factors that affect pest populations is essential in predicting the occurrence of pest outbreaks and in developing integrated pest management programmes. Natural enemies, climatic elements and host plants are among the most important factors affecting pest dynamics.
- Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum ) is the second most consumed vegetable worldwide. The pea leaf miner Liriomyza huidobrensis (Diptera: Agromyzidae) is a major pest to the tomato in Brazil.
- This study aimed to determine the main natural factors that regulate L. huidobrensis populations in tomato fields in Brazil.
- Liriomyza huidobrensis densities were evaluated by directly counting the number of active mines on the basal leaf of the middle section of the plant canopy, and predators and parasitoids were assessed using the leaf-beating-against-a-tray technique. Eight commercial tomato fields were assessed over two years. The phenological growth stages of the tomato plants (vegetative and reproductive) were noted during the assessments.
- Liriomyza huidobrensis populations peaked between the middle and end of the planting season.
- Opius sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was the main natural enemy of L. huidobrensis .
- Our results suggest that phenological growth stage and Opius sp. are associated with population dynamics of L. huidobrensis in tomato fields.
- Therefore, integrated pest management programmes should aim to preserve populations of the parasitoid Opius sp.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Rodrigo Soares Ramos, Abraão Almeida Santos

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Liriomyza huidobrensis	Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)	Brazil (south)