Efficacy of Different Biological Methods for Controlling the Tomato Leaf Miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on Tomato in Greenhouse in Egypt

The tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the most devastating pests. It has become a serious threat to tomato production in Egypt. Five greenhouse trials were conducted on tomato crop during winter plantation of 2013-14 explored control strategies using the egg-parasitoid, Trichogramma achaeae Nagaraja and Nagarkatti (at a rate of 50 adults/m(2)), microbial control (using Bacillus thuringiensis at a rate of 2g/L) and the insect predator, Macrolophus caliginosus Wagner (at a rate of 1/2 adults/ m(2)) in a commercial tomato farm at Berkash district, Giza, Egypt, beside a combination of the three bioagents (T. achaeae, M caliginosus and Bt) at a rate of 25 adults/m(2), 1/4 adult /m(2), 1g/ L, respectively. Obtained results showed that all treatments presented a highly significant efficatcy in reducing T. absoluta mines, especially the combination of the three bioagents.