Let's hope this doesn't come here

Tuta Absoluta’ destroying tomato crops
by Elaine Attard

The pest that is the scourge of tomato growers, the Tuta Absoluta, is
widespread but can be controlled if treated in time and effectively.
The pest is a hammer blow for Maltese producers who depend on the
production of the prolific tomato in summer. Tuta Absoluta is a bug
that is caterpillar-like and can reproduce rapidly especially if food
is available. The species can lie dormant as egg, pupa or adult. The
moths are active during the night and hide between the leaves in the
daytime.
The caterpillars have a strong preference for leaves and stems but
they may also be found in or under the crown of the fruit and in the
fruit itself. Small heaps of excrements are often found near the hole
it forms to enter the fruit. The most distinctive symptoms are blotch-
shaped mines in the leaves in which the caterpillars and dark granular
excrements can be found.
In case of serious infestation leaves die off completely, while mining
damage to the stems causes malformation to the plant. Damage to the
fruit may give easy access to diseases, causing the fruit to decay.
A spokesperson from the plant health department told this newspaper
that it took a while before farmers realised the pest was damaging
their crop and eventually notified the ministry.
Mass trapping and pesticide can mitigate the problem, yet the control
of the pest has become more difficult due to resistance to
insecticide.
Several chemicals can be used against the pest in tomatoes however it
has to be kept in mind that systemic insecticides last long and cannot
be used on tomatoes which are to be harvested soon.
Other control methods include cultural practices such as rotation with
non-solanaceous crops, ploughing, adequate fertilisation, irrigation,
and by burning infested plants and post-harvest plant debris.
The Tuta Absoluta originated in Latin America and proliferated across
Europe after it was exported. The Maltese weather conditions encourage
it to multiply further explained the spokesperson.
It was reported for the first time in Malta in a greenhouse in Dingli,
last April. The distribution of this pest in Malta is still under
study and it was never intercepted before.
Apart from tomatoes the Tuta Absoluta can also attack potato, peppers
and other solanaceous plans.
A spokesperson for Magro Group of Companies, well known Gozitan
producer of preserved tomato paste in Gozo told this newspaper that
the tomato season starts either today or tomorrow and until then they
cannot tell how it will affect this year’s crop.

On 10 July, 09:53, Dave Hill wrote:
Let's hope this doesn't come here

Tuta Absoluta’ destroying tomato crops
by Elaine Attard

The pest that is the scourge of tomato growers, the Tuta Absoluta, is
widespread but can be controlled if treated in time and effectively.
The pest is a hammer blow for Maltese producers who depend on the
production of the prolific tomato in summer. Tuta Absoluta is a bug
that is caterpillar-like and can reproduce rapidly especially if food
is available. The species can lie dormant as egg, pupa or adult. The
moths are active during the night and hide between the leaves in the
daytime.
The caterpillars have a strong preference for leaves and stems but
they may also be found in or under the crown of the fruit and in the
fruit itself. Small heaps of excrements are often found near the hole
it forms to enter the fruit. The most distinctive symptoms are blotch-
shaped mines in the leaves in which the caterpillars and dark granular
excrements can be found.
In case of serious infestation leaves die off completely, while mining
damage to the stems causes malformation to the plant. Damage to the
fruit may give easy access to diseases, causing the fruit to decay.
A spokesperson from the plant health department told this newspaper
that it took a while before farmers realised the pest was damaging
their crop and eventually notified the ministry.
Mass trapping and pesticide can mitigate the problem, yet the control
of the pest has become more difficult due to resistance to
insecticide.
Several chemicals can be used against the pest in tomatoes however it
has to be kept in mind that systemic insecticides last long and cannot
be used on tomatoes which are to be harvested soon.
Other control methods include cultural practices such as rotation with
non-solanaceous crops, ploughing, adequate fertilisation, irrigation,
and by burning infested plants and post-harvest plant debris.
The Tuta Absoluta originated in Latin America and proliferated across
Europe after it was exported. The Maltese weather conditions encourage
it to multiply further explained the spokesperson.
It was reported for the first time in Malta in a greenhouse in Dingli,
last April. The distribution of this pest in Malta is still under
study and it was never intercepted before.
Apart from tomatoes the Tuta Absoluta can also attack potato, peppers
and other solanaceous plans.
A spokesperson for Magro Group of Companies, well known Gozitan
producer of preserved tomato paste in Gozo told this newspaper that
the tomato season starts either today or tomorrow and until then they
cannot tell how it will affect this year’s crop.

For more information about Tuta absoluta, the Tomato leaf miner
have a look at http://www.tutaabsoluta.com/
This pest is in Italy Spain, France, all who send lories of produce to
the UK so it is quite possible for some of these pests to hitch a ride
to the UK
David Hill