1 - Phytosanitary Resources

Identification
instar takes on a pinkish coloration. When larvae are ready to molt they stop
eating and purge their stomach contents, causing their coloration to return to
creamy white.
Table 3-2 Larval Measurements for Tuta absoluta 1
Instar
1 Vargas (1970)
Body Length, mm Head Capsule Diameter, mm
Number of
Mean Range Mean Range Specimens
1 1.61 1.40–1.90 0.153 0.15–0.18 44
2 2.80 2.45–3.10 0.253 0.24–0.28 37
3 4.69 3.85–5.65 0.399 0.35–0.43 53
4 7.72 5.50–9.20 0.834 0.70–0.98 37
Figure 3-3 Tuta absoluta Larva (E.Saini, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agricola,
Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Pupae
Newly formed pupae are greenish and turn dark brown as they mature
(Figure 3-4 on page 3-5) (Estay, 2000). Male pupae are lighter (3.04±0.49
mg) and smaller (length 4.27±0.24 mm and width 1.23±0.08 mm) than female
pupae (4.67±0.23 mg; 4.67±0.23 mm and 1.37±0.07 mm) (Fernandez and
Montagne, 1990a).
3-4 Tomato Leafminer 6/2011
Emergency and Domestic Programs