The tomato russet mite (TRM) is an important pest on solanaceous crops throughout many parts of the world. Tomato russet mite was first described in Australia as a pest of tomatoes in Queensland in 1916. Mites affecting tomato plants of all ages and may be responsible for serious foliage losses, the cause of which is often rather puzzling to the grower. This project investigated the climatic and biological factors influencing the population fluctuations of TRM in crops, the prevalence of resistance to any insecticides among populations of TRM and to identify those insecticides which are efficient in controlling TRM. It also investigated the presence of plant resistance in processing tomato varieties to TRM and the possibility of reducing/eliminating the number of insecticide sprays for TRM by the appropriate choice of insecticides for Helicoverpa control.