PHEROMONE LURE TOMATO MINER MOTH LURE
The Food and Environment Research Agence (FERA) announced in 2008 the first outbreak of Tuta absoluta at a tomato farm in the South East of England; T. absoluta has previously been intercepted on tomatoes at a number of different packing stations in the UK, but the first outbreak has now been confirmed.
In March 2009, the UK intercepted T. absoluta for the first time on imported Spanish tomato fruit at a packing station. A monitoring survey of all packing stations close to tomato growers began following this interception. This survey was widened in May 2009. To date, there are 14 packing sites in the UK with confirmed infestations of T. absoluta. The pest is being introduced on imported tomato fruits from infested areas, primarily Spain but also Italy.
What to look for:
Tuta absoluta belongs to the family Gelechidae Lepidoptera, species Meyrick. It has a biological cycle of 29-38 days and has the potential to reproduce 10-12 generations a year. The life cycle speeds up as temperatures rise. It is mainly found on tomatoes but also affects aubergines and potatoes and to a much lesser degree, tobacco and peppers.
The nocturnal adult moth is 10mm long and hides among leaves during the day and displays a short erratic flight when disturbed. Eggs are creamy white, sometimes yellow, and measure 0.4mm long (tiny). The female can lay up to 260 eggs in her lifetime.
The larvae are much easier to spot than either the eggs or the moth. They are yellow to bright green and vary from 1mm-7.5mm in length. They are often found inside a lovely looking tomato when you are just about to eat it! The larvae first dines on leaves and then on the growing tips. They also mine leaves and bury into stems. They penetrate immature fruits and the resultant holes provide access for other pathogens. Pupation takes place on a leaf surface, in a curled up leaf or mine or in the soil.
The capsule releases the smell of a species-specific sex pheromone. This smell lures adult males of the relevant butterfly/moth species into the trap. They stick to the sticky insert inside the trap, making it easy for you to observe, count and identify them.
IMPORTANT: If the pheromone capsules are of the type 'plastic tube': always keep the lid of the plastic tube closed! The pheromone will slowly release through the diffuse plastic tube.
Unused pheromone capsules should preferably be kept in a freezer (-18°C/-65°F), if not possible, below 4°C/40°F 4 (four) pheremone lures
Coverge: 1 Trap per 0.5hectare
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