FEEDING-BEHAVIOR OF HELICOVERPA-ARMIGERA HBN (LEP, NOCTUIDAE) ON TOMATOES (LYCOPERSICON-ESCULENTUM L) IN GREENHOUSE

The feeding behaviour of larvae of Helicoverpa armigera a was studied on tomato plants grown in a greenhouse using P-32-labelled caterpillar s. When first instar larvae emerged from eggs deposited onto usual egg -laying sites, they fed on leaves, occasionally onto inflorescence, an d some burrowed into fruit when they reached the third instar. During the fourth and fifth instar, they fed alternately on leaves and fruit, and occasionally on stems. Toward the end of their development, the c aterpillars went through a searching phase to look for a shelter for m etamorphosis. This typical sequence could be altered and become more c omplex in relation with the emerging site of the caterpillars. Green f ruits of tomato are usually damaged by larvae of at least 7-8 day old which made several entry holes. These entries were not usually followe d by feeding, but they nevertheless damaged an average of 2+/-0.75 fru its.