Tomato plants are seriously harmed by Tuta absoluta, also referred to as the American pinworm. Due to its extremely destructive character throughout its life cycle, it poses a serious threat to tomato crops. An infestation of Tuta absoluta can have a devastating effect on tomato crops, frequently leading to significant crop losses. This bug infestations can result in 60 to 100% crop losses. The management of Tuta absoluta infestations and the reduction of crop losses depend heavily on integrated pest management techniques that combine the use of biological control agents, cultural activities, and prudent pesticide administration. 🍅🦠🌿
Host plants affected by the American Pinworm
Tomato plants are the primary host of Tuta absoluta. However, it is also known to affect other Solanaceae plants, including peppers, potatoes, brinjal, and tobacco. 🌶️🥔🍆🚬
How does it cause damage?
The larvae of the Tuta absoluta feed on the tissue of the leaves and burrow into them. They can be identified by the irregular, necrotic 'blotch-type' mines in leaves. It is known as a "Pinworm" because it burrows into the fruit, leaving tiny pin-head-sized holes all around the fruit. 🪲🍂🍅
Infested plant portions will begin to dry out and become very feeble as a result of a severe infestation's reduction in photosynthetic activity. Fruits have irregular fruit shapes, puncture marks where the larvae entered the fruit surface, and holes where the larvae exited the fruit.
The fruit rot caused by these holes may come from a secondary source of pathogen infection. Larvae can be seen in the mines or tunnels, on the leaves, or in the harmed fruits, together with their frass (feces). 🍂🍅🔍🦠
Preventive Measures to Control Tuta absoluta 🌿🪲
- To interfere with Tuta absoluta's life cycle, alternate tomato crops with non-solanaceous ones such as green vegetables, beans, cabbage, and cauliflower. Delete and eliminate any fruit and leaf infestations. 🚫🍅🍃
- To reveal and destroy the pupae, plow the field throughout the summer. 🚜🌞🌱
- In addition to tapas pinworm pheromone lure, place 8 to 10 Delta pheromone traps and water traps per acre. 🪰🪤🌳
- To keep track of the pest population, place four to six yellow sticky traps each acre. 📊🟨🪤
- Every 10 to 12 days, spritz 5 ml of neem oil per lit of water. 🌱💧🌿
- Avoid planting alternate host crops next to tomato plantings. 🚫🌱🚜
