The role of leaf wounding and an epigeal predator on caterpillar damage to tomato plants |
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Authors: | SIMON HODGE STEVE WRATTEN JASON SMITH MATHEW THOMAS CHRIS FRAMPTON |
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Affiliation: | Plant, Soil and Ecological Sciences Division, PO Box 84, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand;Applied Management and Computing Division, PO Box 84, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand |
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Abstract: | The effects of leaf wounding and the presence of a New Zealand carabid predator, Megadromus antarcticus, on the mortality of, and leaf damage caused by, Spodoptera litura on tomatoes were examined in glass houses. The presence of the non-climbing carabid increased S. litura mortality with a subsequent decrease in leaf damage. Leaf wounding produced a possible decrease in herbivory but did not affect S. litura mortality. Neither leaf wounding or the presence of carabids affected the vertical distribution of leaf damage on the tomato plants. The role of M. antarcticus as a biocontrol agent for tomato pests in New Zealand is briefly discussed. |
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Keywords: | Leaf-wounding induced defences tomato Lycospersicon esculentum Carabidae Megadromus Lepidoptera Spodoptera herbivory predation biocontrol |
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