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

Maneno Chidege,Elialilia Kaaya,Abisgold Julie,Sheila Mrogoro,Shakil Al-Zaidi,Nayem Hassan

doi:10.1186/s40066-016-0066-4

Maneno Chidege, Elialilia Kaaya + Show 4 more

Open Access

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

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Abstract

Pest invasion has been a disruptive phenomenon in nature, the consequence being ecological and economical negative effect in natural ecosystem of the area. In agriculture, introduced insect pest has a devastating effect on food production. Such a phenomenon occurred in Ngabobo village, Ngarenanyuki, King’ori, in the Arumeru District of Tanzania, a key tomato production area, when boring Lepidoptera larvae were found on aerial parts of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants between 2014 and 2015. Larvae created blotched leaf galleries and superficial mines on fruits. The pest was identified as Tuta absoluta (Meyrick 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) by the leaf and fruit damage symptoms inflicted, the adult morphology as well as using specific pheromone traps (TUA optima lure) against adult male Tuta absoluta. This is the first record of tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta (Meyrick 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Tanzania worth to report. This information will help to design sustainable management tactics against this notorious pest of tomato in the country and the neighbouring countries of sub-Saharan Africa.

Highlights

Pest invasion has been a disruptive phenomenon in nature, the consequence being ecological and eco‐ nomical negative effect in natural ecosystem of the area
Tomato yield in Tanzania is estimated at 17.5 Mt/ha
Description of the study locations The devastating effect of the insect pest on tomatoes in Ngabobo village, Ngarenanyuki ward (3°24′38.9′′ S and 36°39′37.1′′) (Fig. 1), King’ori division, was first noted in August 2014 by the Arumeru District Officials. They brought to the attention of Tropical Pesticides Research Institute (TPRI) the problem of an unknown insect pest destroying tomatoes

Summary

Introduction

Pest invasion has been a disruptive phenomenon in nature, the consequence being ecological and eco‐ nomical negative effect in natural ecosystem of the area. In agriculture, introduced insect pest has a devastating effect on food production. Such a phenomenon occurred in Ngabobo village, Ngarenanyuki, King’ori, in the Arumeru District of Tanzania, a key tomato production area, when boring Lepidoptera larvae were found on aerial parts of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants between 2014 and 2015. Larvae created blotched leaf galleries and superficial mines on fruits. In Tanzania, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important edible and nutritious vegetable crop and sources of income [6]. Chidege et al Agric & Food Secur (2016) 5:17 leave the mines and bore into stalks, apical buds and fruits. Pupation takes place in the mines, in dried leaves or in soil [3]

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