The relation between the number of plants with eggs and the number of tomato fruit borer adults trapped in sexual pheromone traps and, also, the influence of infestation on the tomato crop production were evaluated. Commercial tomato fields in Monte Mor, São Paulo State, were divided into plots for the installation of traps. With an interval of 3.7 days, the density of trapped adults and the fruit infestation with eggs were evaluated. The study was carried out between 2003 and 2007 seasons for crops in Summer and Winter cycles. The evaluations were carried out until the end of the harvest and commercial and discarded production were evaluated. The chemical pest control was carried out when the infestation reached 5% of plants with eggs on fruits. The population was more significant in Summer cycle crops. The increase of the number of males trapped in sexual pheromone traps corresponded to an increase in the infestation of eggs on fruits and infestation influenced positively the discarded production. The installation of the traps must be done before the flowering stage and the control should be performed about eight days after the registration of an average of 0.24 and 0.23 adult per trap per day for the summer and winter cycles, respectively.
Neoleucinodes elegantalis; Solanum lycopersicon; trap; pheromone; correlation; action level; integrated pest management
