Effects of bensultap on larval serpentine leafminers, Liriomyza tirfolii (Burgess) (Diptera: Agromyzidae), in tomatoes

The serpentine leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess), arrived in Turkey within the past decade. Vegetable growers are recommended to treat fields with translaminar insecticides (abamectin, cyromazine and neem) after they see 4-5 mines per leaf, however, they usually use a wide range of conventional insecticides, which are ineffective. We conducted field trials for 2 years in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) greenhouses to evaluate the effects of various concentrations of bensultap (1.5, 0.2, 2.5, and 3.0 kg/ha) on L. trifolii. Cyromazine, because it is widely used, served as a positive control. Bensultap and cyromazine were applied twice, early in the growing season. Leaf samples were used to monitor the effects on larval population levels. Both insecticides significantly reduced leafminers as compared to non-treated control; however, bensultap at 3.0 kg/ha was significantly more effective than at 2.5 kg/ha, which was statistically equivalent to cyromazine at 0.4 kg/ha. Implications of these results on management practices are discussed. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.