Natural enemies of the South American moth, Tuta absoluta, in Europe, North Africa and Middle East, and their potential use in pest control strategies

Submitted by Agripest on 23rd Nov 2013

J Pest Sci (2013) 86:635–647

DOI 10.1007/s10340-013-0531-9

Abstract The South American tomato leafminer, Tuta

absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is an invasive

Neotropical pest. After its first detection in Europe, it rapidly

invaded more than 30 Western Palaearctic countries

becoming a serious agricultural threat to tomato production

in both protected and open-field crops. Among the pest

control tactics against exotic pests, biological control using

indigenous natural enemies is one of the most promising.

Here, available data on the Afro-Eurasian natural enemies

of T. absoluta are compiled. Then, their potential for

inclusion in sustainable pest control packages is discussed

providing relevant examples. Collections were conducted in

12 countries, both in open-field and protected susceptible

crops, as well as in wild flora and/or using infested sentinel

plants. More than 70 arthropod species, 20 % predators and

80 % parasitoids, were recorded attacking the new pest so

far. Among the recovered indigenous natural enemies, only

few parasitoid species, namely, some eulophid and braconid

wasps, and especially mirid predators, have promising

potential to be included in effective and environmentally

friendly management strategies for the pest in the newly

invaded areas.  for full artical, click "download document" top right..