This study was carried out to evaluate site preference of tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), developmental stages on processing tomatoes. Eggs, first- and fourth-instar-caterpillars and pupae, damaging processing tomatoes var. IPA-5, at selected stages (I?before flowering, II?before fruits developed, and III?after fruits developed) were examined. Natural oviposition was studied by releasing 3-day-old T. absoluta moths (ca 20?30) in cages under conditions of darkness. At stage I, the females chose the under-side of the leaf for oviposition in the apical part of the plant canopy. However, the number of eggs laid on the under-side of the leaf surface andpetioles were similar in the three plantparts. At stages II and III, the means of eggs laid on either the upper- or under-side of leaf surfaces was similar between apical and median plant parts. Eggs recorded on leaf petioles were equal for the three parts (apical, median, basal). Higher first- and fourth-instar-caterpillars numbers were observed on the apical and median plant parts for the three developmental stages. However, fourth-instar-caterpillars were distributed equally on the three plantparts in stage III. Higher pupation at stage I was observed onthe apical part, while at stages II andIII it was similar among the three plant parts. For all stages, the pupation was higher on leaves, followed by soil, mainstems and fruit (stage III), respectively. Stage III showed a higher number of pupae on the mainstem compared with stages I and II.

The host selection for oviposition by Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) among corn, millet, cotton and soybean, and its relationship with the biological characteristics were investigated. Free and non-choice tests for oviposition using plots containing five plants each, from each host in plastic greenhouse, resulted in similar oviposition preference among the host plants. In addition, selected biological characteristics of S. frugiperda were determined in the laboratory with larvae feeding on host leaves, and the combination of leaf and cotton boll. Neonate larvae exhibited low success of colonization on cotton boll compared to the leaves of all other hosts. Spodoptera frugiperda fed only on cotton bolls exhibited longer larval and pupal development, and longer adult life span; however with similar egg production. Larvae fed cotton leaves during six days and then transferred to cotton bolls, however, exhibited development and reproduction similar to those reared on corn or only on cotton leaves. Therefore, the variations on immature stages of S. frugiperda were not related with host selection for oviposition which was similar among the studied hosts. Based on our data, the millet as a winter, rotational, and cover crop is a potential host for S. frugiperda, while leaves and cotton bolls were diets of intermediate suitability as compared to corn and soybean leaves.