Seasonal development
and life cycle—Tomato pinworm
Eggs are laid on lower surfaces of leaves.
Larvae usually begin to feed in leaf mines
before moving to fruit. Larvae may complete
development in leaf shelters, or they may leave
to enter fruit, later pupating on the ground
or in soil. Adults, which emerge from pupae
after a few days, are active mostly at night.
Mating occurs soon after emergence and females
lay most of their eggs within 2 days. There
can be as many as seven or eight overlapping
generations per year; the life cycle takes
less than a month in summer, but may take
3 to 4 months in winter. In mild winters, development
continues as long as host plants are available;
there is no diapause.
|
Pinworm
eggs |
Larva
in leaf shelters |
Pinworm
adult |
Larva
in fruit |
|
