Tomato Leafminer Tuta Absoluta

Symptoms

It creates thin, white, winding paths on the leaves. It can cause white spots on the leaves and leaves falling prematurely from the plant; early infestation can cause a decrease in fruit yield; the adult leaf hunter is a small black and yellow moth that lays its eggs on the leaf; larvae hatch and feed on the inside of the leaf.

Cause

Insect.

Conditions for Disease Development

Origin and distribution of Tuta absoluta (leafminers): This species originates from South American countries. The insect later spread to Spain (2006), France, Italy, Greece, Malta, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, and Turkey in subsequent years. Additionally, the insect has been detected in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, and other Gulf countries. In Africa, it is spreading to Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania (in the East) and to Senegal and Nigeria in the west. (It spreads through infected fruits and packaging materials). Life cycle: Mature larvae fall from the leaves to the soil and pupate; the entire life cycle can be as short as 2 weeks in warm weather; the insect can go through 7 to 12 generations per year. Yield loss: If not controlled, the insect causes 100% yield loss. The larva feeds on apical buds, tender new brochures, flowers, and green fruits, which makes it a serious pest in tomatoes. Host Range: This insect also attacks other solanaceous plants such as potatoes, eggplants, pepinos, and tobacco. It has also been reported on many solanaceous weeds.

Control Methods

Natural enemies of leafminers normally keep populations under control; check transplants for signs of leafminer damage before planting; if you are making new plantings in the same place or nearby, remove the plants from the soil immediately after harvest; keep the field away from weeds, especially Solanum, Datura, Nicotiana; use pheromone traps and white sticky traps to monitor and control insects; use insecticides only when leafminer damage is detected as unnecessary spraying will also reduce the populations of their natural enemies.