The objective of this work was to estimate the ideal number of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley to be released in field for the tomato leafminer control Tuta absoluta (Meyrick). An experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, in which tomato plants with 60 days, after the transplantation, were infested with 200 eggs of Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller), an alternative host, in the subsequent ratios: 70% of eggs were put on the top of the plants, 24% on the medium height and 6% on the very bottom of the plants. Females of T. pretiosum were released following the ratios of 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 parasitoids per host egg. Independently of the three distinct plant parts (top, medium or bottom), the ratio of 16 parasitoids per host egg delivered the best results. This ratio value was closer to the ideal number for field releasing in commercial crop production of stalked tomato, aiming the tomato leafminer control.
Lycopersicum esculentum; tomato leafminer; biological control
