Abstract The small tomato borer, Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenee) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is a significant pest of tomato crops in Central and South America, where its occurrence and abundance is dependent on environmental factors. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of climate variables on the abundance of N. elegantalis in open-field tomato cultivation. The population density of N. elegantalis was sampled weekly after tomato fruits reached a diameter ≥0.5 cm until the final harvest, over 15 commercial tomato fields. Egg abundance and mortality, larval abundance and mortality, and pupae abundance was determined within each sample. Rain, photoperiod, wind speed, temperature, and relative humidity was monitored daily. The highest densities of N. elegantalis eggs, larvae, and pupae occurred between March and July. After July, N. elegantalis density was drastically reduced. Path analysis revealed that temperature, rainfall, and photoperiod had a significant and direct effect on N. elegantalis egg abundance, which indirectly affected larval and pupal densities. The path coefficient indicated a negative correlation between the number of N. elegantalis eggs and the photoperiod, while air temperature and rainfall had a positive effect on theses densities. This study improves our understanding of how climate influences N. elegantalis population dynamics. This information will assist in the development of more sustainable pest-management programs for tomato fields, allowing farmers to monitor and adopt control methods when populations rise.

中文翻译：

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气候变量限制了新亮白线虫的种群丰度：重要的新热带番茄害虫

摘要 番茄小螟Neoleucinodes egerialis (Guenee) (鳞翅目：Crambidae) 是中南美洲番茄作物的重要害虫，其发生和数量取决于环境因素。本研究的目的是确定气候变量对露地番茄栽培中优雅新花椰菜丰度的影响。在番茄果实达到直径 ≥ 0.5 cm 直到最终收获后，每周对 15 个商业番茄田中的雅致猪笼草的种群密度进行采样。在每个样品中测定了卵丰度和死亡率、幼虫丰度和死亡率以及蛹丰度。每天监测雨、光周期、风速、温度和相对湿度。雅致猪笼草的卵、幼虫和蛹的最高密度发生在 3 月和 7 月之间。七月之后，N. 优雅的密度大大降低。通径分析显示，温度、降雨量和光周期对优雅猪笼草的卵丰度有显着的直接影响，间接影响幼虫和蛹的密度。路径系数表明，淡黄花椰菜的卵数与光周期呈负相关，而气温和降雨对这些密度有正影响。这项研究提高了我们对气候如何影响优雅猪笼草种群动态的理解。这些信息将有助于为番茄田制定更可持续的害虫管理计划，使农民能够在人口增加时进行监测并采取控制方法。光周期对优雅猪笼草的卵丰度有显着的直接影响，间接影响幼虫和蛹的密度。路径系数表明，淡黄花椰菜的卵数与光周期呈负相关，而气温和降雨对这些密度有正影响。这项研究提高了我们对气候如何影响优雅猪笼草种群动态的理解。这些信息将有助于为番茄田制定更可持续的害虫管理计划，使农民能够在人口增加时进行监测并采取控制方法。光周期对优雅猪笼草的卵丰度有显着的直接影响，间接影响幼虫和蛹的密度。路径系数表明，淡黄花椰菜的卵数与光周期呈负相关，而气温和降雨对这些密度有正影响。这项研究提高了我们对气候如何影响优雅猪笼草种群动态的理解。这些信息将有助于为番茄田制定更可持续的害虫管理计划，使农民能够在人口增加时进行监测并采取控制方法。而气温和降雨量对这些密度有积极影响。这项研究提高了我们对气候如何影响优雅猪笼草种群动态的理解。这些信息将有助于为番茄田制定更可持续的害虫管理计划，使农民能够在人口增加时进行监测并采取控制方法。而气温和降雨量对这些密度有积极影响。这项研究提高了我们对气候如何影响优雅猪笼草种群动态的理解。这些信息将有助于为番茄田制定更可持续的害虫管理计划，使农民能够在人口增加时进行监测并采取控制方法。