The study had the purpose of developing an artificial diet to rear Tuta absoluta, without natural host plants (tomato leaves). The artificial diet used contains, as protein sources wheat germ, casein, yeast, soybean and common bean, that was the variable of this study. The most adequate diet to rear T. absoluta was leaves of ‘Santa Clara’ tomato and, among the artificial diets, the best was the one including ‘Branco’ common bean plus tomato leave powder. This last one showed a phagostimulant effect, low larval mortality and promoted higher total viabilities. The number of larval instars was constant and equal to 4, for artificial diets as well as for tomato leaves, showing that the artificial diets are nutritionally suitable to rear the insect.
Tuta absoluta; artificial diets; instars; tomato; beans; natural diet
