Development and survival of Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on wild and cultivated solanaceae

ABSTRACT The small tomato fruit borer Neoleucinodes elegantalis is a pest of wild and cultivated solanaceous economic importance, such as tomatoes, eggplant, peppers scarlet eggplant. We compared the development, survival reproduction N. in Solanaceae alternative hosts absence plants field. development time was significantly affected by host plant longer larvae feeding on Survival immature stages higher fed although cycle completed all hosts. Fecundity also influenced lower when eggplant solanaceae Solanum paniculatum (jurubeba). net reproductive rate jurubeba intrinsic growth sp. results show that both species can act for during intercropping winter autumn may thus larval reservoirs infestations species. large number able to sustain another factor, together with world’s climate changes, increase invasive potential into tomato-producing countries.