Tuta absoluta
Overview
Tuta absoluta is a highly destructive tomato leaf miner moth.
It is one of the most important protected tomato pests worldwide.
Damage may occur to: - leaves - stems - flowers - fruit
Identification
Typical signs: - leaf mines - stem galleries - fruit holes - black frass - collapsed leaf tissue
Adults are small grey-brown moths.
Conditions favouring Tuta
| Condition | Risk |
|---|---|
| Protected tomatoes | Very High |
| Continuous cropping | High |
| Poor hygiene | High |
| Undetected hotspots | High |
Monitoring
Use: - pheromone traps - crop inspections - mine detection - fruit inspections
Inspect: - lower leaves - growing points - fruit clusters
IPM approach
Useful strategies: - early trapping - mine removal - hygiene - biological continuity - crop clean-down
Commonly affected crops
Key message
Tuta outbreaks escalate rapidly if mines and hotspots are not detected early.