TECHNICAL AWARENESS ON TUTA ABSOLUTA (S. AMERICAN LEAF MINER)

TECHNICAL AWARENESS ON TUTA ABSOLUTA

Taxonomic Tree

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Metazoa

Phylum: Arthropoda

Subphylum: Uniramia

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Gelechiidae

Genus: Tuta

Species: Tuta absoluta

International Common Names
English: South American tomato moth

Egg
The eggs are elliptical, and their colour varies from oyster-white to bright yellow, darkening in the embryonic phase and becoming almost black.

Larva
The first-instar larvae are whitish soon after eclosion, becoming greenish or light pink in the second to fourth instars according to food (leaflet or ripe fruit, respectively).

Pre-pupa
The pre-pupae are lighter than the feeding larvae (first to fourth instars) and develop a distinguishing pink colouration on the dorsal surface. They leave the mines and build silk cocoons on the leaflets or in the soil, according to habitat. When pupation occurs inside mines or fruit the pre-pupae do not build cocoons.

Pupa
Pupae are obtecta with greenish coloration at first, turning chestnut brown and dark brown near adult emergence.

Adult
Adult moths are about 10 mm long, with silverish-grey scales, filiform antenae, alternating light or dark segments and recurved labial palps which are well developed.

Chemical Remedies for Tuta Absoluta

 

A very critically important list of effective chemicals for the control of Tuta Absoluta. N.B. There is need for at least three to four different chemicals or chemical combinations. Tuta Absoluta has no specific chemicals that can hammer it on its own hence the need to consider alternating chemicals from different chemical groups, with different modes of action, for effective control and for resistance management. The list is as follows:
Abamectin + DDVP
Belt + Decis forte
Emamectin benzoate + Lufenuron
Emamectin benzoate + Thiamethoxam
Emamectin benzoate + Lambda cyhalothrin
Runner (Insect growth regulator)
Delegate
Tracer
Cartap hydrochloride
Acephate
Lannate/Methomyl
Biobit (this is a biological insecticide)
Imidacloprid
Avaunt
Best results are obtained when you are using an Integrated Pest Management, so u need to also consider the use of Tuta Absoluta pheromone traps to take care of the adult males. 

Agricura PVT Limited

Growing Farming Generations



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