Dynamics of Pest Complex, Natural Enemies and Pollinators of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. in Tropics

Tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum (Mill.), is a self-pollinated crop, grown worldwide. It is widely cultivated in the tropics and is susceptible to pests. The most significant pests found on L. esculentum are fruit borer, serpentine leaf miner, and whitefly, while flea beetle and aphid are of minor importance. The natural enemies of pests are ladybird beetles, spiders, praying mantis, rove beetles, red ants, dragonflies, and damselflies, and a few parasitoids are found predating on pests. Carpenter bee is the most frequent floral visitor and the main pollinator of tomato. In this chapter, the dynamics of major pests as well as natural enemies and pollinators found in the tropics is reviewed.