First report of the South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), as invasive pest in Udaipur Region of Southern Rajasthan in India

The invasive pest tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), was observed for the first time in the Udaipur district of Southern Rajasthan, India, during 2018-2020 under field and protected cultivation in tomato. Morphological and molecular identification (amplifying cytochrome oxidase gene (CO-I) of mitochondrial DNA) was made to confirm the occurrence of this new invasive species. The developmental period of T. absoluta has four stages viz; egg, larva, pupa and adult. The duration of the incubation period, first, second, third and fourth instar larvae were observed at 4.52 +/- 0.68, 2.38 +/- 0.50, 3.95 +/- 0.80, 3.43 +/- 0.51 and 2.57 +/- 0.51 days, respectively. The hatching rates of the eggs were 94-97 per cent. The average length of first, second, third and fourth instar larvae was measured at 0.610 +/- 0.037, 1.577 +/- 0.067, 3.917 +/- 0.121 and 7.379 +/- 0.176 mm, respectively. A total larval period of 10-15 days was recorded, with a mean of 12.33 +/- 1.35 days. The pupal phase lasted 10-12 days on average, with a mean of 10.95 +/- 0.86 days. Adult longevity was 12.00 +/- 1.41 days on average, with a range of 10-14 days. T. absoluta had a life span ranging from 30 to 40 days, with a mean of 35.43 +/- 3.56 days.