Population growth parameters of tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Lep.: Gelechiidae) at field condition in Khosrowshah region, East Azarbaijan province

Tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is one of the most important pests of tomato which rapidly spread into most areas of Iran after its entrance to the country. Biology of the pest was studied and its population growth parameters were calculated at a tomato field condition in Khosrowshah region, East Azarbaijan province of Iran in 2014. Leaf cages were installed on Super Strain B tomato variety and 55 eggs were placed separately. Eggs were observed daily for hatching. Larvae and pupae mortality and development were also recorded daily. After adult emergence, number of eggs laid by adult females was recorded per day till they died. Survival rate of T. absoluta from egg to adult was 74.54% with sex ratio of 60.97 percent. The most mortality (25.46%) occurred at the egg stage. The average duration of hatching eggs, and larvae and pupae developmental periods were 4.37 ± 0.08, 10.78 ± 0.07 and 7 ± 0.06 days, respectively. The tomato leaf miner completed a generation (from egg to producing the first egg) on tomato during 23.08 ± 0.06 days. The data was analyzed according to the age-stage, two-sex life table. The intrinsic rate of increase was 0.141 ± 0.005 day-1, finite rate of increase was 1.15 ± 0.006 day-1 and net reproductive rate was 43.72 ± 6.63 offsprings/generation.