Chlorantraniliprole mediating the survival and behavior of adults of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in tomato

Abstract Tuta absoluta is a major pest of tomato. An insecticide that acts in several phases of the life cycle of the pest, can present greater control efficiency and greater amplitude of action, possessing greater capacity in reducing the population of the insect. In this context, the objective of this study was to determine the lethal concentrations for caterpillar and adults of T. absoluta and to evaluate whether the insecticide chlorantraniliprole influences the behavior and oviposition of adults of T. absoluta as well as the mortality of caterpillar. The insect population was collected in tomato production and created in the laboratory, being used in toxicity studies. We determined lethal concentrations (LCs) and side effects in laboratory oviposition tests, and on oviposition and mortality of adults in field trials were evaluated. The insecticide chlorantraniliprole caused mortality in caterpillar and adults of T. absoluta, in addition to presenting a side effects, reducing both the number of eggs, in laboratory and field trials, as the number of adults of T. absoluta.