Within-plant distribution of the leaf miner Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) immatures in processing tomatoes,with notes on plant phenology

Bacteria of the genus Serratia are often associated with insects, often carry distinctive pigments and can be readily isolated onto diagnostic selective media. Bacterial marking of parasitoids has been used in studies to determine rate of oviposition and host acceptance, and it provides a rapid indication of ovipositor penetration. The technique has been applied to parasitoid-weevil and parasitoid-lepidoptera interactions. Bacterial marking has the potential to be used in parasitoid dispersal studies and its use in IPM is discussed.