Biology of Keiferia lycopersicella (Walshingam) in tomato in greenhouses

Keyferia lycopersicella is one of the most important pests in protected tomato production, affecting the crop yields in these systems. That is the reason why the biology of this specie was studied on tomato Solanum lycopersicum (Mill.) hybrid Hazera 3819. Larvae and eggs were collected and taken to the laboratory for the establishment of a successive rearing. Once adults emerged they were placed in glass and mesh insectary containers, the mesh was of 40 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm, as food 15% honey and water. 5 couples were placed in each container and they were given tomato plants of the Hazera-3809 cultivar. We observed the oviposition of eggs, we annotated the number of days in the egg stage, larval days state, pupa days and adult days. K. lycopersicella cycle had four larval instars, the duration was 4.5 days for the egg, 10.93 days for the larval stage, 6.86 days for the pupa and adult was 8.20 days. The total cycle time was 36 days with an average of 30 days. The number of eggs laid per couple ranged between 36 and 52, within 5 days of oviposition. The fertility rate was 92.15%. The preference of females for ovoposition places were the bundle of leaflets, into the grooves along the veins.