First record of Tomato leaf miner - Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera:Gelechiidae) in Tanzania

Publication Date

Fri, 09 Feb 2018, 15:29

Last Updated

Feb. 13, 2018, 5:35 p.m.

Report Number

TZA-01/2

Country

Tanzania- United Republic of

Report Status

Final

Pest Status (old values from ISPM 8 -1998 )

• Present: only in some areas
• Present: subject to official control

Pest Status (ISPM 8 - 2021)

• Present: not widely distributed and under official control

Summary

The devastating effect of the insect pest on tomatoes in Ngabobo village, Ngarenanyuki ward (3˚24'38.9" and 36˚39'37.1") King'ori Division. The pest was first noted in August 2014 by the Arumeru District Officials. They brought to attention of Tropical Pesticide Research Institute (TPRI) the problem of unknown insect pest destroying Tomatoes. Subsequently, a reconnaissance tour and sampling commenced on 5 August 2014 by a team of 15 people from research stations and Universities. The larval infested tomato fruits, leaves and other infested plant debris were collected and transported to the National Insect collection Reference Centre (NIRC) situated at TPRI. The infested leaves and tomato fruits were dissected to obtain different larval instars for identification. Furthermore, the larval infested tomato fruits, leaves and other debris were incubated in the cage until when they grew into adult moths. With the aid of stereo-microscope, the fruit damage had characteristic holes in the surface, leaves mesophyll tissues were mined between the upper and lower epidermis, the larval from the dissected tomatoes and leaves was creamy-white in the early instars and green or pink like antennae. Voucher specimens were retained in the National Insect collection Reference Centre (NIRC) for future reference, while photographs of adult moths, larval and the damaged fruits and leaves as observed under the microscope were sent to Russell IPM for confirmation. Furthermore, Russell IPM brought TUTA ABSOLUTA specific pheromone traps (TUA optima rule) to catch adult male moth. On 27 July 2015, Pro Muniappan Rangswamy of Virginia Tech. IPM Innovation Lab confirmed the identity when he personally visited TPRI laboratory during Tuta absoluta workshop sponsored by USAID held at TPRI Headquarters, Arusha Tanzania.

Contact for info

[email protected], [email protected]

Report files

Website

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-016-0066-4

Issue keywords

Pest status:Present/Presence

Commodity keywords