Abstract
Tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a serious pest of tomato Solanum lycopersicum L. (Solanaceae) originating from South America. Due to previous outbreaks in neighbouring West African countries, surveillance was ongoing since 2014 in Benin. Tomato plants were regularly inspected and pheromone traps placed in tomato-producing localities in northern, southern and central Benin, including fields close to the border with Niger and Nigeria. In late 2017 and beginning of 2018 Gelechiidae moths were obtained from both the traps and the reared plant material. Morphological examination and molecular analysis of the gained specimens allowed to confirm the presence of the pest in the northern and central regions of Benin. We hence confirm the presence of T. absoluta in yet another West African country.
Highlights
Invasive species constitute a threat to native wildlife, human health and food production (Masters and Norgrove 2010)
In West Africa, it was reported from costal Senegal in 2012 (Pfeiffer et al 2013) and one and three years later it occurred in Niger and Nigeria respectively (Adamou et al 2017; Borisade et al 2017), a close expansion towards Benin
Pheromone traps were placed in a north-south transect in Benin e.g. in Tomboutou (Malanville), Kargui (Karimama) and Dédoumè (Kpomasè), by the Benin National Institute of Agricultural research (INRAB) from 2014 to 2016, and at Malanville, Savè and Grand Popo by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) from 2014 to 2015, yet no T. absoluta individuals were caught during that period of time
Summary
Invasive species constitute a threat to native wildlife, human health and food production (Masters and Norgrove 2010). Among representative examples for such threats figures the tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) that started to invade the African continent since 2007 (Desneux et al 2011; Sylla et al 2017). The larvae of this moth are devastating for tomato production, causing 30% damage on tomato in Tunisian greenhouses (Chermiti et al 2009) and nearly 100% losses in open-field tomato in Tanzania (Chidege et al 2016). We report for the first time the presence of T. absoluta in Benin, a prerequisite information to initiate appropriate management options against this newly introduced invasive species
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