الفهرس 
Effect of host plants and microbial biopesticides on development and population parameters of the tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera – Gelechiidae)
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Abstract
The tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera - Gelechiidae) is an important pest that feeds on many economically important solanaceous crops. In this study, the effect of three solanaceous plants (tomato, potato and eggplant) on the oviposition behavior, development and life table parameters of the tomato leaf-miner was investigated. Tomato was the most preferable host plant for oviposition and most suitable host for development and survival.Tomato plant had positive effects on the capacity of population increase (higher R0 and r with lower T). The incubation period, larval and pupal durations, oviposition periods, adult longevity and fecundity of T. absoluta on the three host plants were also calculated. The results showed significant difference between tomato and the two other host plants. The tomato leaf miner, T. absoluta 2nd larval instar was exposed for one day to LC50 of Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) var. kurstaki or Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) incorporated into tomato foliage. Surviving larvae were transferred into untreated foliage, in which biological and population parameters were measured. Treated larvae had longest development period while non-treated larvae had shortest development period. The highest survivorship (lx) of adults was obtained with the non-treated larvae while the lowest survivorship was obtained with B. thuringiensis-treated larvae. The lowest agespecific fecundity (mx) of females was obtained with individuals treated as 2nd larval instar by B. bassiana. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) reached its maximum with nontreated individuals while this value decreased to the minimum value with the biopesticides-treated individuals. Therefore, development, survival and reproduction of treated individuals were lower than non-treated individuals. The reproduction period and adult longevity were the shortest considering biopesticides-treated individuals. The highest and lowest net reproductive rates (R0) were detected considering non-treated and treated individuals, respectively. The mean generation time was increased with biopesticides-treated individuals. This study provides useful data for developing management tactics depending on the changes in the population density of the pest