The role of leaf wounding and an epigeal predator on caterpillar damage to tomato plants

Simon Hodge, Steve Wratten, Jason Smith, Mathew Thomas, Chris Frampton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effects of leaf wounding and the presence of a New Zealand carabid predator, Megadromus antarcticus, on the mortality of, and leaf damage caused by, Spodoptera litura on tomatoes were examined in glass houses. The presence of the non-climbing carabid increased S. litura mortality with a subsequent decrease in leaf damage. Leaf wounding produced a possible decrease in herbivory but did not affect S. litura mortality. Neither leaf wounding or the presence of carabids affected the vertical distribution of leaf damage on the tomato plants. The role of M. antarcticus as a biocontrol agent for tomato pests in New Zealand is briefly discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)137-141
Number of pages5
JournalAnnals of Applied Biology
Volume134
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1999

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Agronomy and Crop Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The role of leaf wounding and an epigeal predator on caterpillar damage to tomato plants'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this