Effect of sublethal doses of abamectin on demographic traits of tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta is a serious pest of tomato crops worldwide. In this study the effect of sublethal concentrations of abamectin (at 10 and 30% lethal concentrations, LC10 and LC30) was investigated on developmental and reproduction parameters of the tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta. Lethal concentrations were estimated by leaf dip bioassay on the fourth instar larvae of the T. absoluta that, LC50, LC30 and LC10 were 0.23, 0.15 and 0.12 mg · l–1, respectively. The sublethal concentrations led to significant decreases in adult emergence, the percentage of pupation of the parent generation, fecundity and adult longevity compared to the control. Sublethal concentrations significantly decreased the net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and gross reproduction rate (GRR). There was a significant decrease in the time to egg developmental and doubling time (DT) of T. absoluta. However, sublethal concentrations of abamectin had no significant effects on the percentage of pupation, larva, prepupa and pupa developmental periods, hatchability and sex ratio of offspring. The results of this study indicated that sublethal concentrations of abamectin could influence some biological parameters of T. absoluta. The results could also be helpful for making better management decisions for controlling the tomato leafminer.