Growth Impact of <i>Tuta absoluta</i> (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), Meyrick, on tomato plants and factors associated with the pest longevity in Nigeria

Abstract

Identifying damage pattern and studying the longevity of Tuta absoluta is essential for developing sustainable and effective strategies to manage this pest and mitigate its impact on agricultural systems and food security. The present study aims to elucidate the invasion impact of Tuta absoluta on tomato plants and factors associated with the pest longevity in Nigeria. Rearing of Tuta absoluta were carried out under an average 27.5 ± 3 °C temperature and 75.5 ± 3% relative humidity following standard procedure. Obtained data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and SPSS version 20.0. Subsequently, they were subjected to ANOVA with significance level at P = 0.05. The larval stage represents the destructive phase of Tuta absoluta on tomato plants. Virgin males and females had lifespans of up to 7.3 ± 2.13 and 12.9 ± 3.55 days, respectively, with significantly different values (P<0.05) observed between the sexes. Mating affected longevity of T. absoluta moths. Males lived up to 7.0 +0.15 days while the females lived up to 20.5 + 0.44 days. These values are significantly different at P<0.05. Generally, female live longer than the male counterpart of Tuta absoluta under any condition. It is therefore recommended that the most effective stage to target for control of the pest is typically the larval stage.