Trichogramma cacoeciae as a biological control agent of the tomato pinworm Tuta absoluta in Northeastern Tunisia

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Published: Nov 8, 2013
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/eh.11527
Keywords:
biological control Trichogramma cacoeciae Tuta absoluta
Asma Cherif
Laboratory of Entomology and Acarology, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia – University of Carthage, 43 Avenue Charles Nicolle, Cité Mahrajène, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia
Lebdi Grissa Kaouthar
Laboratory of Entomology and Acarology, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia – University of Carthage, 43 Avenue Charles Nicolle, Cité Mahrajène, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia
Abstract

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is considered as key pest attacking tomato in Tunisia and in many other countries around the world. In order to investigate the efficacy of Trichogramma cacoeciae (Marchal) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) for biological control of this pest in Northeastern Tunisia, releases were performed in open field conditions. T. cacoeciae showed a good efficacy on reducing the number of T. absoluta eggs and larvae when releasing 30 adults/plant in plots covered with insect-proof netting in May 2012. The results showed that this parasitoid may be a promising agent for T. absoluta biological control in Tunisia.

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