~109~ International Journal of Statistics and Applied Mathematics 2024; SP-9(6): 109-111 ISSN: 2456-1452 Maths 2024; SP-9(6): 109-111 © 2024 Stats & Maths www.mathsjournal.com Received: 18-10-2024 Accepted: 22-11-2024 PG Bandrewar Division of Entomology, RCSM College of Agriculture, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India IA Ghonmode Division of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Karad, Maharashtra, India SB Kharbade Department of Entomology, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Maharashtra, India AS Bagde Division of Entomology, RCSM College of Agriculture, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India AN Barve Division of Entomology, RCSM College of Agriculture, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India OS Lokare Division of Entomology, RCSM College of Agriculture, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India MR Lajurkar RCSM College of Agriculture, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India Corresponding Author: PG Bandrewar Division of Entomology, RCSM College of Agriculture, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India Population dynamics of invasive tomato leaf miner tuta absoluta (Meyrick) under open field condition PG Bandrewar, IA Ghonmode, SB Kharbade, AS Bagde, AN Barve, OS Lokare and MR Lajurkar Abstract The present experiment was conducted during the summer season of 2024, in the open field of a farmer in the Kolhapur District (Maharashtra) with the objective to study the population dynamics of invasive tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) under open field conditions. The study indicated that the infestation of T. absoluta was recorded throughout the cropping season. T. absoluta incidence first appeared in the 9 th MW and the population steadily increased and reached its peak in the 18 th MW (4.4 larvae per plant). A positive significance with maximum temperature (0.977) and minimum temperature (0.644) and a negative non-significance with morning relative humidity (-0.450) and with an evening relative humidity (- 0.202) was noticed. Keywords: Tuta absoluta, tomato leaf miner, population dynamics, invasive pest, weather correlation Introduction Maharashtra emerges as a key player in India’s tomato production with its favourable climate, fertile soils and adoption of advanced farming method. Districts like Pune, Satara, Nasik, Dhule and Ahmednagar are renowned for producing high quality tomatoes. Around 56,000 hectares of land cultivated in Maharashtra are dedicated to tomato farming, with a yield of 33.20 tonnes per hectare and a total production of 1 million metric tonnes. Integrating modern agricultural practices and technologies enhances the productivity and quality of tomatoes, thereby strengthening their position in India [1] . The impact factors viz, seasonal weather, temperature, humidity, illnesses and insect pests can affect tomato yield. In India a significant hurdle for the low productivity of tomato is the pest complex that affects the crop growth starting from planting to harvesting [2] . Several pests are known to harm tomato crops, like fruit borers, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius), Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner), sucking pests, Bemicia tabaci (Gennadius), Ferrisia vitrgata (Cockerella), and serpentine leaf miner, Liryomyza trifolii (Burgess). Recently the invasive pest named, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), a South American tomato leaf miner also known as tomato pinworm. This pest has been reported to cause serious damage to fruits and leaves and reduced commercial production of tomato by leaving pin-sized holes. It has been discovered to harm tomato and other crops in the Solanaceae family [3] . Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is the name given to the tomato leaf miner that was first discovered in 1917 in Peru and identified the species as Tuta absoluta in 1994 [4] . In 2006, it was detected in Spain, Europe. Thereafter, it has swiftly entered into other European Nations and proliferated throughout the Mediterranean area, encompassing Middle East, North Africa and parts of Asia [5-7] . In India the pest was discovered for the first in October 2014 on tomato plants grown in polyhouses and fields in Pune and currently expanding throughout the Indian subcontinent [7-9] . This experimental study was conducted during the summer season of the year 2024, in open field of farmer in the Kolhapur District (Maharashtra) with the objective to study the population dynamics of invasive tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) under field conditions in the sub-montane zone of Kolhapur.