Species spectrum and abundance of moths (Lepidoptera) in the greenhouse culture of Solanum lycopersicum

Abstract

The species spectrum and abundance of moths were monitored in a greenhouse in Kameničany (western Slovakia) in 2020, in which Solanum lycopersicum was grown from seedlings imported from the Netherlands. Moths were caught using light traps placed at different sites in two sections of the greenhouse, a part with continuous cultivation and a part with culture restoration during research. Captures were taken during June, October and November. A total of 836 individuals of 87 species from 14 families were recorded. Of the moths captured, 12 species (99 individuals) were saprophagous, 45 species (624 individuals) were specialists not developing on Solanaceae, 9 species (22 individuals) were polyphagous on herbs or woody plants with unlikely developments on Solanaceae, 14 species (68 individuals) were polyphagous which development on tomato is possible, and 7 species (23 individuals) were polyphagous that could damage tomato plants. All of these 7 potential pests were native owlet moths (Noctuidae) that penetrated into the greenhouse from the surrounding area. None of these species was recorded in numbers to indicate their harmfulness. No species were found that may have been introduced with the seedlings.