A survey conducted during Kharif 2023 and 2024 across six tehsils of Jaipur district revealed significant spatial and temporal variation in the infestation of tomato pinworm (Tuta absoluta) and fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera). Chomu and Sanganer consistently emerged as pest hotspots, while Dudu and Kishangarh Renwal recorded low infestation levels. In Chomu, T. absoluta infestation peaked at 23.5 mines and 2.7 larvae per five plants in 2023, and 20.5 mines and 2.4 larvae in 2024, with fruit damage of 18.84% and 15.52%, respectively. H. armigera infestation was highest in Sanganer, with larval counts of 4.3 and 4.1 per five plants, and fruit damage of 35.66% and 31.31% in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Natural enemies such as the mirid bug (Nesidiocoris tenuis) and spiders were observed across all tehsils, with N. tenuis most abundant in Chomu (2.5 per five plants) and spiders in Sanganer (3.8 per five plants).

Survey, Tomato, Significant, Consistently.

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is an important vegetable crop of the Solanaceae family, cultivated worldwide for its economic and nutritional value. India is the second-largest producer after China, with extensive cultivation for fresh consumption. Tomato is widely used to make soup, juice, ketchup, puree, paste, and powder, and is also known for its medicinal value-reportedly possessing antiseptic properties that help combat intestinal infections and purify blood (Willcox et al., 2003). Lycopene, a key carotenoid found in tomatoes, is known for its antioxidant and anticancer properties (Rao & Agarwal 1999).

Tomato is grown globally, both in open fields and greenhouses, particularly in countries like China, India, USA, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Italy, Spain, Brazil, and Mexico. In India, it is cultivated on 853.99  thousand hectares with a production of 21323 thousand MT and productivity of 24.97  MT/ha (Anonymous, 2023). Major tomato-producing states include Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. In Rajasthan, tomato covers 20.47 thousand hectares, with an annual production of 260.75 thousand MT and productivity of 12.74 MT/ha (Anonymous, 2023).

However, tomato production is often limited by biotic and abiotic stresses, especially insect pests and diseases which significantly reduce yield and fruit quality. Among emerging pests, the South American tomato pinworm (Tuta absoluta) is causing serious concern, with damage reports of up to 80% yield loss, especially in South Indian conditions (Nitin et al., 2017; Biondi et al., 2018). This pest was first reported in India in October 2014 in Maharashtra (Pune, Ahmednagar, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nashik, and Satara districts) (Shashank et al., 2015), and later detected in Udaipur, Rajasthan during 2018 - 2020 under field and protected cultivation. T. absoluta larvae cause direct damage by mining leaves, boring into stems, buds, and fruits, and can cause losses up to 80-100% without timely control measures (Desneux et al., 2010). This pest poses a significant threat to both open-field and greenhouse tomato production systems. Additionally, the fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera, a highly polyphagous pest, feeds on foliage and bores into shoots and fruits, severely impacting yield and quality. The larvae damage developing fruits, making them unmarketable and leading to crop losses of up to 55% (Selvanarayanan, 2000; Sharma, 2005).

This study focuses on these major pest threats by conducting field surveys to evaluate pest populations, monitor seasonal dynamics, and explore integrated pest management (IPM) strategies suited to the agro-climatic conditions of Rajasthan (Kumar et al., 2019).

The survey on fruit borer complex and their natural enemies on tomato crop was conducted at vegetative and fruiting stages in the Jaipur district of Rajasthan at different locations i.e. six tehsils (Chomu, Bassi, Sanganer, Dudu, Kishangarh Renwal and Jobner). From each tehsil two village and from each village five farmers were selected during two consecutive seasons, Kharif, 2023 and 2024.

Method of observations

For recording the observations, five plants were selected randomly from each farmer’s field at different locations. The observations on fruit borer complex and their natural enemies were recorded as per following sub-heads.

1. Tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta  (Meyrick). During the survey the number of leaf mines, number of larvae  and per cent fruit damage was recorded on five randomly selected plants at vegetative and fruiting stages. The number of mines were counted on two leaves each from top, middle and bottom of the plant (Sridhar et al., 2016) and the mean number of mines per five plant was calculated. The larval population was recorded per five plant basis and per cent fruit damage  was calculated using the formula given by Kashyap and Verma (1987).

2. Tomato fruit borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner). The larval population of fruit borer was recorded on five randomly selected plants and percent fruit damage was worked out as formula given by Kashyap and Verma (1987).

3. Natural enemies. The population of natural enemies viz., mirid bug, Nesidiocoris  tenuis (Reuter) (both nymph and adult) and spiders were recorded on five randomly selected plants during both the year of study from each field at different location.

Tomato pinworm, T. absoluta

Vegetative stage of tomato crop: The data presented in Table 1 and 2 revealed that at the vegetative stage of tomato crop during Kharif  2023, the maximum  number of mines (16.0 per five 5 plants) and larvae (1.8 per 5 plants) of T. absoluta were recorded in Chomu tehsil, followed by Sanganer (15.0 mines and 1.7 larvae) and Jobner (12.5 mines and 1.5 larvae). The minimum number of mines (5.5 per 5 plants) and larvae (0.9 per 5 plants) were observed in Dudu tehsil, followed by Kishangarh Renwal (7.5 mines and 1.2 larvae) and Bassi (10.0 mines and 1.3 larvae).

Likewise, during Kharif  2024, the maximum number of mines (14.5 per 5 plant) and larvae (1.5 per 5 plants) were recorded in Chomu tehsil, followed by Jobner (13.0 mines and 1.3 larvae) and Bassi (10.5 mines and 1.2 larvae). The minimum number of mines (4.5 per 5 plants) and larvae (0.7 per 5 plants) were observed in Dudu tehsil, followed by Kishangarh Renwal (5.5 mines and 0.9 larvae) and Sanganer (8.0 mines and 1.1 larvae).

Fruiting stage of tomato crop: The data in Table 1 and 2  showed that at the fruiting stage during Kharif 2023, the maximum number of mines (23.5 per 5 plants) and larvae (2.7 per 5 plants) were recorded in Chomu tehsil, followed by Sanganer (21.5 mines and 2.5 larvae) and Jobner (20.5 mines and 2.2 larvae). The minimum number of mines (14.0 per 5 plants) and larvae (1.4 per 5 plants) were observed in Dudu tehsil, followed by Kishangarh Renwal (16.5 mines and 1.7 larvae) and Bassi (18.5 mines and 2.0 larvae). The maximum percent fruit infestation due to tomato pinworm was also recorded in Chomu tehsil (18.84%), followed by Sanganer (16.22%) and Jobner (12.88%), while the minimum was in Dudu tehsil (4.81%), followed by Kishangarh Renwal (7.27%) and Bassi (9.88%).

Similarly during Kharif 2024, the maximum number of mines 20.5 per 5 plants) and larvae (2.4 per 5 plants) were also recorded in Chomu tehsil, followed by Jobner (19.5 mines and 2.2 larvae) and Bassi (18.5 mines and 2.0 larvae). The minimum number of mines (13.5 per 5 plants) and larvae (1.3 per 5 plants) were observed in Dudu tehsil, followed by Kishangarh Renwal (14.5 mines and 1.5 larvae) and Sanganer (17.0 mines and 1.7 larvae). The maximum percent fruit infestation due to tomato pinworm was recorded in Chomu tehsil (15.52%), followed by Jobner (14.62%) and Bassi (10.36), while the minimum was in Dudu tehsil (2.41%), followed by Kishangarh Renwal (5.65%) and Sanganer (8.53 %).

These results are corroborated by Choudhary (2024), who also identified Chomu as the most severely infested tehsil. Similarly, Sridhar et al. (2014) recorded up to 15 mines per plant and over 80% plant infestation in tomato fields of Karnataka. High levels of leaf and fruit damage have also been reported by Balaji et al. (2018); Kalleshwaraswamy et al. (2015) in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, indicating widespread threat posed by this pest across different regions.

The present findings also align with Rashid et al. (2018) in Andhra Pradesh, Ramesh et al. (2023) in Maharashtra reported infestation levels with leaf mines ranging from 0.46 to 12.6 per plant and fruit damage from 10.56% to over 80%. In Nepal, Bajracharya et al. (2016); Adhikari et al. (2019) recorded T. absoluta infestation above 75% in certain districts, confirming its high destructive potential.

Tomato fruit borer,  H. armigera 

Vegetative stage of tomato crop: The data presented in Table 1 and 2 showed that during Kharif 2023, at the vegetative stage of the tomato crop the maximum number of larvae (2.0 per 5 plants) was recorded in Sanganer tehsil, followed by Chomu (1.8) and Jobner (1.7), while, the minimum was in Kishangarh Renwal (1.1), followed by Dudu (1.3) and Bassi (1.4).

Likewise during Kharif 2024, the maximum number of larvae (1.8 per 5 plants) were recorded in Sanganer tehsil, followed by Chomu (1.7) and Bassi (1.5) and the minimum was in Dudu (0.7), followed by Kishangarh Renwal (1.0) and Jobner (1.2).

Fruiting stage of tomato crop: At the fruiting stage during Kharif 2023, the maximum number of larvae (4.3 per 5 plants) was recorded in Sanganer tehsil, followed by Chomu (4.0) and Jobner (3.8), while, the minimum was in Kishangarh Renwal (3.0), followed by Dudu (3.2) and Bassi (3.5). The maximum  percent fruit  infestation due to tomato fruit borer was observed in Sanganer tehsil (35.66%), followed by Chomu (32.16%) and Jobner (29.51%), while, the minimum was in Kishangarh Renwal (18.17%), followed by Dudu (21.95%) and Bassi (27.68%).

Similarly during Kharif 2024, the maximum number of larvae 4.1 per 5 plants) was recorded in Sanganer tehsil, followed by Chomu (3.7) and Bassi (3.6), while, the minimum was in Dudu tehsil (2.6), followed by Kishangarh Renwal (2.9) and Jobner (3.2). The maximum percent fruit infestation due to tomato fruit borer was also observed in Sanganer tehsil (31.31%), followed by Chomu (29.69%) and Bassi (25.81), while the minimum was in Dudu (15.83%), followed by Kishangarh Renwal (18.85%) and Jobner (22.91%).

Similar trends were observed by Wakil et al. (2010) in Pakistan, where infestation ranged from 14.5% to 32.6%. Lal and Lal (1996) reported 70–80% fruit damage in areas surrounding Delhi, even under heavy pesticide use, underscoring the limited efficacy of chemical control. 

Natural enemies : The natural enemies viz., mirid bug, Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) and spiders were observed in all the tehsil surveyed during both the year on tomato crop.

Mirid bug: During Kharif 2023, the mean population of both adults and nymphs of mirid bug, N. tenuis per five plant of tomato were ranged from 1.6 to 2.5 being, maximum in Chomu tehsil (2.5) and minimum in Dudu tehsil (1.6). Similarly during Kharif 2024, the mean population of N. tenuis per five plant were ranged from 1.5 to 2.2, being, maximum in Chomu (2.2) and minimum in Kishangarh Renwal (1.5). In other tehsils viz., Sanganer, Jobner, Bassi and Kishangarh Renwal the population of mirid bug was 2.2, 2.0, 1.9 and 1.8, respectively during Kharif, 2023. In the tehsils Jobner, Bassi, Sanganer and Dudu the population was 2.0, 1.9, 1.8 and 1.8, respectively during Kharif, 2024.

Spider: During Kharif 2023, the mean population of spiders per five plant were ranged from 2.9 to 3.8 being maximum in Sanganer tehsil (3.8) and minimum in Dudu (2.9). Similarly during Kharif 2024, the mean population of spiders per five plant were also ranged from 2.6 to 3.5, being maximum in Sanganer (3.5) and minimum in Jobner (2.6). In other tehsils viz., Chomu, Jobner, Kishangarh Renwal and Bassi the population of spiders was 3.5, 3.4, 3.2 and 2.9, respectively during Kharif, 2023. In the tehsils Chomu, Kishangarh Renwal, Bassi, and Dudu the population was 3.4, 3.2, 3.0 and 2.9, respectively during Kharif, 2024.

These results agree with Rashid et al. (2018), who reported N. tenuis preying on T. absoluta eggs and early larvae, and Devaraj et al. (2018), who recorded beneficial predators in Karnataka tomato fields. The present work is similar to that of Patil et al. (2023) who recorded ten different species of spiders in tomato. The consistent presence of natural enemies suggests their potential role in pest regulation and highlights the importance of conserving these beneficial organisms in integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.

Table 1: Survey the infestation of fruit borer complex and their natural enemies on tomato crop in Kharif, 2023.

Table 2: Survey the infestation of fruit borer complex and their natural enemies on tomato crop in Kharif, 2024.

The future scope of this study includes developing targeted pest management strategies tailored to hotspot areas like Chomu and Sanganer, and promoting the conservation of natural enemies such as Nesidiocoris tenuis and spiders for sustainable pest control. Further research could also explore the ecological factors driving spatial and temporal pest variation.