Host Plant Trichome Architecture Mediates the Predatory Efficacies of Nesidiocoris tenuis and Chrysoperla carnea Against Tuta absoluta

Abstract

Simple Summary The tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta) is a serious pest that threatens tomato production worldwide, and sustainable alternatives to chemical control are urgently needed. Biological control using natural enemies is an important strategy, but the success of predators may depend on the characteristics of the crops on which they are released. In this study, we compared the abilities of two important predators, Nesidiocoris tenuis and Chrysoperla carnea, to control T. absoluta eggs on tomato and eggplant plants. Although both predators showed strong predatory ability under laboratory conditions, their efficacies differed greatly on different crops. While N. tenuis provided robust control on tomato plants, C. carnea showed limited control because the long hairs on tomato leaves interfered with its movement and hunting behavior. In contrast, C. carnea was highly effective on eggplant, which has shorter leaf hairs that allow easier movement. These results demonstrate that plant characteristics can strongly influence the success of biological control and highlight the importance of selecting natural enemies that are well adapted to specific crops.