Tomato moth

Tuta absoluta (Phthorimaea absoluta)

Tuta absoluta or tomato moth, as it is popularly known, has been one of the great pests of tomato plantations in the world over the last 30 years, and mainly in South America, where one of its first records occurred in Peru about 100 years ago. Today, T. absolute is found in countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and also in some places in Asia. One of the factors that lead to the accelerated population growth of the pest is associated with the multivoltine behavior of the insect, producing several generations per year. In this way, it has become a major economic threat in the world, leading in the most serious cases to the annihilation of 100% of production in certain regions and imposing great economic challenges to the producer. Despite being known as a tomato pest, as it feeds mainly on the fruit, the moth is able to develop in several species of plants such as cucumber, potato and eggplant. Its presence was also recorded in wild species of the Solanaceae, such as Lycopersicum puberulum, Datura ferox, D. stramonium and Nicotiana glauca. The eggs of T. absoluta, are white and then brownish or yellowish, are laid in different parts of the plant, such as in the flowers, leaves, fruits and even in the stems. After hatching, three to five days later, the larvae pierce the fruits, consuming their pulp, or the leaves. Others occupy the stems of the plant. The pupa phase, about ten days later, gives way to small moths, grayish, silvery or brown, 10 mm long. Insects can live for a week, but not before mating and laying eggs, which usually happens first thing in the morning or late afternoon. A female lays an average of 260 eggs during her lifetime.