Vol. 7, Issue 9, Part I (2025)

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an economically important vegetable crop, widely cultivated across India, with Madhya Pradesh being one of the leading producers. Despite its significance, tomato production faces severe yield constraints due to a complex of insect pests and fluctuating environmental conditions. The present study was conducted in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh during 2022-23 and 2023-24 to document the ecological succession of insect pests and beneficial arthropods associated with tomato under field conditions. Observations were recorded twice weekly on a randomly selected sample of 25 plants from untreated plots of variety Arka Vishesh. Results indicated that sucking pests such as jassids (Amrasca biguttula biguttula), whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci), and aphids (Aphis gossypii) appeared early in the vegetative stage and persisted until the late reproductive stage. Thrips (Thrips tabaci) and leaf miners (Liriomyza trifolii) were active from vegetative to reproductive phases, while the invasive pinworm (Tuta absoluta) remained prevalent throughout the crop cycle. The fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera) caused severe damage during fruiting, whereas red spider mites (Tetranychus spp.) appeared under warm, dry conditions in 2023-24. Among beneficials, ladybird beetles (Menochilus sexmaculatus) were consistently recorded across all stages, while lacewings (Chrysoperla sp.) appeared during the vegetative phase, highlighting their role in natural regulation. The findings emphasize a clear pattern of pest succession, validating earlier reports, and underscore the importance of integrating ecological knowledge into pest management strategies. Conservation of natural enemies and timely interventions can support sustainable tomato production.