First record of tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Kyrgyzstan

This short note reports the first record of the tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Kyrgyzstan. This pest was found in February 2017 in greenhouses producing tomatoes, located 15 km from Bishkek. Identification of the pest was carried out in the Plant Protection Department, Çukurova University, Turkey based on the morphology of adults and larvae and the male genitalia. According to initial surveys this pest could be a major threat to tomato production in Kyrgyzstan.     

First record of the tomato leafminer,Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Sudan

An outbreak of larvae and adults of a devastating moth was noted to be causing severe damage in tomato grown in greenhouses at Khartoum State, Sudan during June 2010. Symptoms included foliage mining and leaves drying. Photographs of symptoms and larvae and adults of the pest (and subsequently specimens) were sent to Russell IPM, UK and the Finnish Museum of Natural History for identification. The pest was identified as Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). This is the first official record of T. absoluta in Sudan, based on surveys in tomato production areas in Khartoum, Gezira, Red Sea and North Kordofan States and eggplant and potato in Khartoum State. Severe yield loss due to the serious feeding damage on foliage and fruits infestation was reported on tomato and eggplant fields at Khartoum State.     

Response of the tomato miner Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) to thirteen insecticides in semi‐natural conditions in Tunisia

Experiments on larvicide and ovicide activity of 13 insecticides in semi‐natural conditions showed a medium to low efficacy of bio‐insecticides on all instars of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) except for Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner var. kurstaki which was distinguished by an average mortality of 72.5%. Spinosad and Spinetoram based insecticides showed high efficiency in controlling all instars of larvae with respectively an average mortality of 66.5% and 85.6%. However, this study revealed a unique ovicide effect of azadirachtin‐neem oil based insecticide with 43.8% egg mortality.     

First record of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Burundi

This study to detect Tuta absoluta was carried out at four sites in western Burundi from March to July 2018. Delta traps containing Tutrack pheromone and sticky paper were installed in tomato fields at 40 cm from the ground. Sample collection was carried out twice a week. The results confirmed the presence of T. absoluta in Burundi. Effective pest control is required to avoid heavy losses on tomato production.     

番茄潜叶蛾成虫卵巢发育与卵子发生研究

明确雌成虫的卵巢发育及其卵子发生有利于害虫发生期和发生量的准确预测及其防治适期的确定。本研究在观察重大外来入侵害虫番茄潜叶蛾Tuta absoluta雌成虫生殖系统结构和卵巢发育级别的基础上,进一步比较了营养条件和是否交配处理,即未交配+清水、未交配+20%葡萄糖溶液、交配+清水、交配+20%葡萄糖溶液条件下番茄潜叶蛾的卵子发生动态。结果显示：雌成虫生殖系统主要包括卵巢、输卵管、附腺、交配囊、阴道支囊、受精囊及受精囊腺等组织;左右两侧卵巢的卵巢管数大多相等,各含4根卵巢管;卵巢发育进度可分为卵黄沉积前期(Ⅰ级)、卵黄沉积期(Ⅱ级)、成熟待产期(Ⅲ级)、产卵盛期(Ⅳ级)和产卵末期(Ⅴ级)5个级别。雌成虫只取食清水也可持续形成成熟卵子,未交配雌虫卵子数量于羽化72 h达到高峰,发育至96 h时显著减少,并观察到卵子重吸收现象。取食20%葡萄糖溶液可显著促进雌虫的卵子发生,其成熟卵子、总卵子数在羽化后24 h均显著多于取食清水;雌虫发生卵重吸收后,补充取食20%葡萄糖溶液,卵巢内各类卵子数显著增加。交配对雌成虫卵子发生有明显促进作用,取食20%葡萄糖溶液或清水的交配雌虫,羽化96 h后,成熟...     

Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) invasion in Nigeria: first report of its distribution

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The South America tomato pinworm Tuta absoluta is a serious invasive species in Nigeria. Its impacts on crop production are well understood, but its...     

Studies on the development of a mating disruption system to control the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta Povolny (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

BACKGROUND: The tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta Povolny) has rapidly colonised the whole Mediterranean and South‐Atlantic coasts of Spain, and it has become a key problem in both outdoor and greenhouse crops. New control methods compatible with biological control are required, and mating disruption appears to be a perfect method in current agriculture, as it is an environmentally friendly and residue‐free technique. IPM packages tested have included the use of pheromones to detect populations, but there has not been much previous research on mating disruption of T. absoluta. In this work, pheromone doses varying from 10 to 40 g ha^?1, emitted at a constant rate over 4 months, were tested in greenhouses with different levels of containment in order to evaluate the efficacy of mating disruption on T. absoluta. RESULTS: Trials on containment level revealed that the flight of T. absoluta was satisfactorily disrupted with an initial pheromone dose of 30 g ha^?1, and levels of damage did not significantly differ from those in reference plots with insecticide treatments. Later efficacy trials confirmed previous experiences, and release studies showed that control of damage and flight disruption were taking place when releasing at least 85 mg pheromone per ha per day. CONCLUSION: Effective control using pheromone application against T. absoluta can be achieved, in greenhouses with high containment levels, for 4 months, with initial doses of 30 g ha^?1. Further research must be conducted in order to evaluate the prospect of outdoor application of mating disruption systems. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Life-table analyses for the tomato leaf miner,Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae): effects of plant genotype

BACKGROUND

Host plant resistance plays an important role in integrated pest management programs. Crop resistance assessments commonly focus on only a single dependent variable, such as larval survival/plant damage, which limits the ability to appreciate the impact of host plants on pest populations in the full sense. Therefore, we performed life-table analyses for tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta, on 19 Solanum lycopersicum genotypes and a wild Solanum habrochaites accession. These analyses assess the ability of the pest to attain a high population density on different tomato genotypes. Based on the resulting ranking of tomato resistance at the vegetative stage (45-day-old plants), we tested the resistance of six selected genotypes at the reproductive stage (4-month-old plants).

RESULTS

T. absoluta performance was significantly inferior on vegetative-stage S. habrochaites plants (LA 1777); time taken for the first instars to mine the leaves (5 ± 0.14 days), development time of early- and late-stage larvae (8.8 ± 0.2 and 4.2 ± 0.2 days, respectively), pupal period (11.2 ± 0.58 days), and total developmental time (29.4 ± 0.83 days) were significantly longer, fecundity was significantly lower (18.66 ± 7.24 days), and the highest total mortality (63.33%) also recorded compared with other genotypes, resulting in the lowest net reproductive rate (R₀) (11.20 ± 2.51). For the six selected genotypes, the ranking of plant resistance did not change between plants at the vegetative and reproductive stages.

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that of 20 screened tomato genotypes, LA 1777 and EC-620343 are the least suitable hosts for T. absoluta to establish fast-growing populations, and thus can be employed in integrated T. absoluta management. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Abamectin resistance and synergism in Brazilian populations of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Failures in the control of the tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) by means of abamectin in Brazil, and a recent report of abamectin resistance in Brazilian populations of this pest species, led to the investigation of the possible involvement of detoxification enzymes using insecticide synergists. Resistance to abamectin was observed in all populations when compared with the standard susceptible population, with resistance ratios ranging from 5.2- to 9.4-fold. Piperonyl butoxide was the most efficient synergist with abamectin synergism ratios ranging from 3.0- to 5.3-fold and providing significant resistance suppression, but complete suppression of abamectin resistance was only obtained in one population of T. absoluta . Triphenylphosphate was an abamectin synergist which was not as efficient as piperonyl butoxide, but it provided complete suppression of abamectin resistance in four of the six resistant populations studied, suggesting a major involvement of esterases as an abamectin resistance mechanism in these populations. The importance of cytochrome P450, inhibited by piperonyl butoxide, seems secondary to esterases. Diethyl maleate also synergized abamectin in nearly all populations, but provided only partial suppression of abamectin resistance in the leafminer populations studied. Therefore, glutathione-S-transferases seem to be of minor importance as an abamectin resistance mechanism in Brazilian populations of T. absoluta .     

Susceptibility of tomato borer,Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) populations from Turkey to 7 different insecticides in laboratory bioassay

The tomato borer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), was first recorded in Turkey in August 2009 and rapidly became a serious pest in the Mediterranean and Aegean coastal regions in field and greenhouse grown tomatoes. Currently, insecticides are considered one of the major tools for the management of T. absoluta in Turkey. This study, investigated the efficacy of 7 different insecticides, against T. absoluta in laboratory bioassays. To determine the lethal concentration (LC) values and feeding activity of the larvae, tomato leaf parts mined by 1–3 day old L1 larvae were dipped into different insecticide concentrations. Mortality was recorded 5 days after insecticide treatments. Spinosad, chlorantraniliprole + abamectin or indoxacarb treatment resulted in 100% mortality with minimal or no feeding in all populations at their recommended doses of 120, 50.4 and 60 mg a.s. L^?1, respectively. In general, the LC₉₉ values of populations for these insecticides were similar and also lower than that of the recommended field doses. The effect of pyridalyl was low, resulting in low mortality with serious feeding damage at the dose of 125 mg a.s. L^?1. The efficacies of abamectin, metaflumizone and azadirachtin were found to be moderate to low at the recommended doses (4.5, 240 and 50 mg a.s. L^?1, respectively). However, these insecticides may affect pupation and adult emergence rates hence further studies are recommended to investigate these insecticides.     

Tomato leafminer – Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera,Gelechiidae) – current status in Montenegro

Tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta was detected for the first time in Montenegro using pheromone traps in the middle of July 2010, in greenhouses in one location at the Montenegrin sea coast. In the period from the end of July to the first week of August, moths were captured in pheromone traps from other locations along the sea coast and surroundings of the city of Podgorica. According to the survey carried out by the authors from July to September 2010, T. absoluta was present in greenhouses in all tomato‐producing areas, while outdoors it was found only in the coastal area. Monitoring of T. absoluta continued in 2011. Pheromone traps were set up in five locations in the main tomato‐producing areas, both in greenhouses and outdoors, between 4 and 15 May. The first captured moths were detected after 7–15 days in all inspected locations, and captures continued until the end of September. According to the number of captured moths and the damage observed, it can be concluded that the population level in 2011 was lower in comparison with 2010, when up to 100% losses were detected in tomato crops in several locations. In 2011, tomato producers were already being informed about the pest and means of control, so most of them applied cultural and chemical control measures.     

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera,Gelechiidae) in the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Pheromone traps were placed in the market place in Banja Luka, and in greenhouses and open field tomato crops, on 13 September 2010 to determine the presence of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Banja Luka region. Based on examination of traps, the presence of T. absoluta was confirmed for the first time in the Republic of Srpska. Only mines of Liriomyza species were found by examining leaves under a stereomicroscope. In 2011, pheromone traps were placed in greenhouses at several locations (Banja Luka, Prijedor, Novi Grad, Kozarska Dubica, Ljubinje and Trebinje) at the beginning of June, and in open fields in Bijeljina and Trebinje at the beginning of September. Examination of the traps was carried out at intervals of 15 days. A sample of 100 leaves, taken from 20 randomly selected plants, was examined in order to evaluate the intensity of the attack. The first adults were caught in greenhouses in Ljubinje and Trebinje on 18 June 2011; in open field crops in Bijeljina on 9 September 2011 and in Banja Luka on 5 October 2011. Adults were not captured in Prijedor, Novi Grad or Kozarska Dubica, and no mined leaves were observed. The intensity of attack was evaluated on the basis of active infestation (percentage of leaves with active mines compared with all mined leaves). The strongest intensity of active infestation was recorded in the open field crops in Trebinje, where 19% of leaves with active mines were found.     

The tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) in Tunisia: current status and management strategies

The tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) was first identified in the region of Akkouda in October 2008 before it spread to all tomato‐producing areas in Tunisia. The introduction of this pest disturbed existing pest control programmes in greenhouses and open fields, forcing Tunisian growers to use more chemicals to reduce its impact on their crops. A national programme was adopted to control T. absoluta, including cultural practices, the use of pheromones, the installation of insect‐proof screens in greenhouses, and the use of organic insecticides including Bacillus thuringiensis Kurstaki (Bt) and plant extract‐based products. In addition, a few experiments in biological control, using the predatory Mirid Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter (Heteroptera: Miridae) and the parasitoid wasp Trichogramma cacoeciae Marchal (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), were conducted in greenhouses and open‐field crops (producing tomatoes for fresh consumption as well as for processing). This paper describes the status of T. absoluta in Tunisia, including data collected from sex pheromone traps installed in six tomato‐producing areas (Takelssa, Korba, Teboulba, Bekalta, Sousse and Kairouan) between 2009 and 2011, and control strategies in greenhouses and open fields.     

Genetic study of Mediterranean and South American populations of tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Povolny, 1994) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) using ribosomal and mitochondrial markers

BACKGROUND: Before its introduction into Europe at the end of 2006, Tuta absoluta (Povolny, 1994) was confined solely to South America. Currently, this invasive pest is well established in various European and Mediterranean countries, causing important economic losses to tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) crops. In order to study the genetic variability of this pest, 23 Mediterranean and ten native South American populations were analysed with nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers. RESULTS: The internal transcribed spacers 1 (ITS1) and 2 (ITS2) of rDNA and a fragment in the mtDNA gene encoding cytochrome oxidase I (COI) were PCR amplified and sequenced in T. absoluta. Sequence analyses consistently revealed neither intrapopulation nor interpopulation variation in either genomic region. CONCLUSIONS: High genetic homogeneity was detected in T. absoluta populations from the Mediterranean Basin and South America, based on mtCOI and ITS rDNA sequence analysis. A single genetic type was identified in this pest. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry