EPPO Bulletin (2012) 42, 211-216

R.N.C. Guedes and M.C. Picanço (2012)
The tomato borer Tuta absoluta in South America: pest status, management and insecticide resistance
EPPO Bulletin 42 (2), 211-216
Abstract: The tomato borer Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) has been a recognized pest in South America since the 1960s, quickly spreading to the major tomato-producing countries in the region. A series of studies regarding this pest's biology, ecology and management were conducted to contain tomato losses within acceptable levels. Although cultural control methods were attempted against T. absoluta, as were the development of resistant tomato varieties and the use of pheromones and natural enemies, insecticides are still the main control method used. The sex pheromone of T. absoluta was identified, confirmed and synthesized in the late 1990s and it is currently used for detection and monitoring of this species, but improved sampling plans are still necessary for its use in decision-making regarding insecticide use. Insecticide use has shifted from earlier reliance on organophosphates, pyrethroids, cartap and abamectin to insect growth regulators and, more recently, to novel insecticides. Unfortunately, the overreliance on insecticide use led to problems with insecticide resistance in the region, which is a current matter of concern not only in South America, but also elsewhere since introduced strains may carry insecticide-resistance genes at high frequency even without local selection in the site of introduction.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Raul Narciso C. Guedes, Marcelo Coutinho Picanco

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general
pesticide resistance of pest

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phthorimaea absoluta	Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)