South American tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) was recorded for the first time in Nepal from a commercial tomato farm of Kathmandu during May 2016.

Publication Date

Tue, 06 Sep 2016, 06:31

Last Updated

Nov. 28, 2017, 3:44 a.m.

Report Number

NPL-03/2

Country

Nepal

Pest Id

Tuta absoluta - (GNORAB)

Report Status

Final

Hosts

tomato

Pest Status (old values from ISPM 8 -1998 )

• Present: except in specified pest free areas

Pest Status (ISPM 8 - 2021)

• Present: except in specified pest free areas

Geographical Distribution

Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Kavrepalanchowk districts.

Summary

Tuta absoluta was identified studying external morphology and male genitalia in Entomology Division, NARC, Nepal and verified by the Division of Entomology, IARI, New Delhi, India.

Preliminary survey conducted showed this South American tomato leaf miner has spread within Kathmandu valley and surrounding areas.

T. absoluta was found from 14 locations out of 17 locations surveyed during 16th May 2016 to 10th June 2016. Occurrence and infestation level of this pest at various places of Kathmandu valley and its vicinity district1.

All major tomato growing areas surveyed in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Kavrepalanchowk district showed presence of the South American tomato leaf miner.

Bajracharya, A. S. R., R. P. Mainali, B. Bhat, S. Bista, P. R. Shashank, and N. M. Meshram. 2016. The first record of South American tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Nepal. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 4(4):1359-1363. Last accessed September 1, 2016, from http://www.entomoljournal.com/archives/2016/vol4issue4/PartO/4-4-95-749.pdf.

Danger

Tuta absoluta is a new highly invasive devasting pest of tomato spreading all over Nepal and causing high yield loss. Many farmers and technicians still confuse in identication of this pests. May cause to 100% yield loss. The current situation appears almost irreversible and effective management would require the coordinated efforts of research scientists, extension specialists, NGOs and growers Needs awareness to farmers and technicians to prevent its spread in new places

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Issue keywords

Commodity keywords

Fresh or chilled vegetables (excl. potatoes, tomatoes, vegetables of the Allium spp., cabbages of the genus Brassica, lettuces of the species Lactuca sativa and Cichorium, carrots, turnips, salad beetroot, salsify, celeriac, radishes and similar edible ro