Tuta absoluta (Tomato Leaf Miner) Detection & Management by Mass Trapping

Detection of T. absoluta: Detection of T. absoluta is very efficient with soapy water or oil over water traps baited with T. absoluta pheromone lures. The lures emit a female-produced sex pheromone that is > 10,000 times more potent than that of the females in luring males to the traps.

Monitoring traps should be placed on planting terraces at a density of 2-3 / Ha in green-houses and 10-20 / ha in open fields. Traps should be checked weekly.

Tuta absoluta Life cycle Tuta absoluta Damage.

Recommendations for Mass Trapping Tuta absoluta

Lures: Currently recommended lures are rubber septa loaded with 0.5 mg of E3,Z8,Z1-tetradeca-trien-1-yl acetate (95) and E3, Z8-tetradecadien-1-yl acetate (5). Lures should be replaced every 10-12 weeks.

Trap design:Traps that present an open surface with the lure suspended above the retaining surface are effective. Traps that require males to enter a confined space (such as Unitraps) are significantly less effective. The most effective surfaces to retain males are soapy (1% laundry detergent) water or water and motor oil (1 cm on top of water). Water without soap is about 4-8X less effective in retaining males attracted to the traps than soapy water. Adhesive based traps are significantly less effective than soapy water and water/oil based traps of the same size.

Trap location:During the cropping cycle it is beneficial to place traps at ground level (on planting terraces). Although females oviposit in the upper parts of plants trap captures of males are higher throughout the crop cycle at ground level. The increase in efficiency obtained by placing traps at ground level compared to ~ 1-1.5 meters is ~4X.

Density of Traps: The following table presents a recommended trap density based on capture rates in moni-toring traps.

Moths / Trap / Week Recommended Treatment0 No infestation3 Mass Trapping with 20 soapy water traps / ha

Spraying with azadarachtin or Bt.3 to 30 Mass trapping with 20-40 soapy water traps / ha

Spraying with azadarachtin or Bt.

> 30Mass trapping with 40-50 soapy water traps / haWeekly sprays with BtSpray indoxacarb (young plants) or Spinosad (adult plants)

A. Monserrat, Servicio de Sandidad Vegetal, Murcia, Spain 2008

Mass Trapping as Management Measure: In all population densities mass trapping effectively removes sufficient males that pest pressure is reduced. Mass trapping is most effective when used in conjunction with recommended insecticides.

Timing of Trapping:It is best to place traps for the first time at least 1 month before harvest and maintain traps between cropping cycles. Trapping during the post harvest period is important. During the post harvest period many males emerge from drying plants and the soil and their capture lowers pest pressure for the next crop cycle.

Importance of Phytosanitation: In South America it has beneficial in both greenhouses and open fields to mass trap T. absoluta prior to planting. Additionally, because T. absoluta larvae & pupae reside in the leaves & stems of tomato plants it is important to remove all plant residues from the previous crop. For this practice to have the maximum beneficial effect it should be done immediately after harvesting. During the drying cycle often used prior to plant removal significant numbers of adult T. absoluta emerge from infested plants. These provide a base population for the next crop cycle. Trapping during this period is particularly effective. During the crop cycle both Spinosad and Indoxacarb have proven effective in managing low populations of T. absoluta.

Recommended traps for Monitoring & Mass Trapping of Tuta absoluta

Pheromone Lure (Two Active ingredients)P214-Lure Tuta absoluta 0.5 mg (2 components)

Plastic Delta TrapsP445-Pack Plastic Delta Trap with Hanger Package (10 units)P446-Pack Sticky Inserts for Plastic Delta Trap Package (10 units)

Plastic Water Traps C

P448 Tuta absoluta Water/Oil Trap (A) (B)P450 Top & Basket for Tuta absoluta Water Trap (C)

C

A

B

Chemtica InternacionalValencia Industrial Park Zeta

Sto. Domingo, Heredia, Costa Rica Tele 506-2238-4738 FAX 506-2238-1053

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