author(s)
Binu Bhat and Ajaya Shree Ratna Bajracharya

abstract
South American tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1971) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is an oligophagus insect pest of tomato and has a high capacity to feed on various cultivated as well as wild plants as alternate hosts. Life cycle of the insect on alternate hosts are equally important to develop integrated pest management (IPM). Considering this fact, life cycle of T. absoluta on three solanceous plants: tomato (var. Srijana), potato (var. Kufri Jyoti) and brinjal (var. Shamli hybrid) was studied at laboratory conditions during October- November, 2018. T. absoluta successfully completed life cycle on all three host plants. Tomato was found as the most suitable host of T. absoluta followed by potato and brinjal on the basis of developmental period and adult longetivity. Mean larval period was found 10.75 days in tomato, 11.8 days in potato and 12.42 days in brinjal. Average pupal period of the insect was found 7.13, 7.66 and 8.00 days in tomato, potato and brinjal, respectively. The total developmental period from egg to adult emeregence was found 21.87 days in tomato, 23.46 days in potato and 24.50 in brinjal. Adult moths survived longest on tomato (12.00 days) followed by potato (9.60 days) and brinjal (8.30 days).