South American tomato moth (Tuta absoluta) and tomato protection measures in the conditions of the Northern Steppe of Ukraine

Cultivation of nightshade family crops (Solanaceae) requires sufficient amount of moisture and heat. In Ukraine, the most available conditions for that are in the southern regions: Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Zaporizhia and AR of Crimea, where the average yield of tomatoes is about 30 t/ha, and planting area is about 470 thousand hectares. Tomatoes are the main host plants for the South American tomato moth. Leaves, fruits and vegetative buds damaged by these pests, become a kind of «gateway» for the infection of plants by fungal pathogens. Feeding of phytophagous on the fruits of tomato leads to their falling off. Yield losses can reach 100%. This pest has high adaptability to climatic and natural conditions, capable for reproductive activities throughout the year. Among the factors contributing to the spread of these pests at the intercontinental level, the most important is the uncontrolled trading of infected fruits with plant particles, and the local spread from one field to another due to the ability of adult moths to fly. The searching of scientifically grounded methods of control of South American tomato moth, in particular, the study of the effectiveness of modern insecticides by means of spraying and drip application along with applying irrigation against this pest in the Steppe of Ukraine is very actual. During the phytosanitary evaluation of experimental plots of tomatoes before treatment with insecticides, a high number of larvae of South American tomato moth was found, which in the check plots averaged 3,1-7,0 number/plant before the first application of insecticides, and 9,1-20,6 number/plant before the second one. Insecticide Exirel, SE (cyantraniliprole 100 g/l) with the consumption rates of 1,0 l/ha and 1,5 l/ha when providing double spraying in a small-plot experiment on open ground tomatoes provided the effectiveness against tomato moth caterpillars at 91,1% and 99,5% on the 3rd day after application, and the duration of its toxic effect exceeded 14 days. In the conditions of protected soil when applying the insecticides along with drip irrigation the insecticide Verimark CS (cyantraniliprole, 200 g/l) with the rates of 0,5 and 0,75 l/ha provided the effectiveness against tomato moth caterpillars in 3 days after application on the average by 92,4-100,0%, and the duration of its toxic effects was more than two weeks. Applying insecticides along with drip irrigation due to their local application provided high efficiency of insecticides against phytophagous larvae, having a rather long duration of toxic effect, compared with spraying.

Южноамериканская томатная моль Tuta absoluta Meyrick новый опасный вредитель томата в Ростовской области

В статье представлена информация о происхождении и распространении южноамериканской томатной моли Tuta absoluta Meyrick в мире. По состоянию на конец 2019 года, южноамериканская томатная моль распространена в большинстве стран Южной Америки, в Центральной Америке вредитель отмечен в КостаРике, Панаме и Гаити. В Африке вредитель отмечен в 25 странах. В Азии южноамериканская томатная моль отмечена в Ираке, Иране, Сирии, Турции, Узбекистане, Киргизии, Таджикистане, Азербайджане, Индии, Бангладеш и Непале. Проникнув впервые в Испанию в 2006 году, T. absoluta к настоящему времени широко распространилась в Европе. В России южноамериканская томатная моль была впервые выявлена в 2010 году в республике Адыгея. Дано описание морфологических и биологических особенностей вредителя. Показано распространение и вредоносность томатной моли в Ростовской области РФ. В 2019 году томатная моль распространилась по всей территории станицы Кривянская. Первые признаки повреждения томатов молью в 2019 году отмечали уже с июня, лишь на некоторых отдаленных фермерских участках с июля. Первые очаги в теплицах отмечаются, как правило, на боковых рядах и в углах теплиц. Предложены меры борьбы с вредителем для сдерживания его распространения. Необходим тщательный карантинный контроль продукции и рассады пасленовых культур из зон распространения вредителя, обеспечение пространственной изоляции теплиц от посадок пасленовых культур открытого грунта. Необходимо регулярно уничтожать поврежденные части растений (листьев с минами, плодов с ходами), послеуборочных остатков и пасленовых сорняков. Следует соблюдать плодосмен с выращиванием неповреждаемых промежуточных культур. В течение вегетации необходимо выявлять вредителя и проводить массовый вылов самцов с использованием феромонных ловушек. Международный комитет по предотвращению развития резистентности к инсектицидам рекомендует к применению против T. absoluta порядка 40 препаратов из 12 классов, включая бактериальные.The article deals with data on origin and world distribution of the South American tomato moth, Tuta absoluta Meyrick. At the end of 2019, the South American tomato moth is common pest in most of South America, in Central America, it is noted in Costa Rica, Panama and Haiti. In Africa, the pest has been recorded in 25 countries. In Asia, the South American tomato moth has been recorded in Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Having first penetrated Spain in 2006, T. absoluta has now spread widely in Europe. In Russia, the South American tomato moth was first identified in 2010 in the Republic of Adygea. The description of morphological and biological features of the pest is given. The distribution and harmfulness of tomato moth under conditions of the Rostov Oblast of Russia is shown. In 2019, the tomato moth spread throughout the Krivyanskaya village. The first signs of damage to tomatoes by moths in 2019 have been noted since June, only in some remote farm areas since July. The first foci in greenhouses are noted, as a rule, on the side rows and in the corners of greenhouses. The pest control measures to limit its further spreading are suggested. A thorough quarantine control of products and seedlings of nightshade crops from the pest distribution zones is necessary, ensuring the spatial isolation of greenhouses from planting nightshade crops in the open ground. It is necessary to destroy damaged parts of plants (leaves with mines, fruits with moves), postharvest residues and nightshade weeds regularly. It is necessary crop rotation with the growing of intact intermediate crops. During the growing season, it is necessary to identify the pest and conduct a mass catch of males using pheromone traps. The international Committee for the prevention of insecticide resistance recommends the use of about 40 preparations from 12 classes, including bacterial, against T. absoluta.

Susceptibility of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma achaeae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) to selected insecticides used in tomato greenhouses

The South American tomato moth Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a pest species of great economic importance in tomatoes, both in greenhouses and in open-air crops. This importance has increased in recent years because it has been introduced in many countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Insecticides different active ingredients and biological control agents are being used in the control of this pest species. This implies the need to make both groups compatible within IPM programmes. Therefore, the objective of this work was to study the compatibility between different insecticides and the use of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma achaeae Nagaraja and Nagakartti (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Three groups of trials were carried out under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Ten insecticides with the following active ingredient were evaluated: abamectin, azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis, chlorantraniliprole, emamectin, flubendiamide, indoxacarb, methomyl, spinosad, and spiromesifen. In the results, three groups of insecticides were established based on their compatibility with the use of biological control: The first group (abamectin, B. thurigiensis, flubendiamide, indoxacarb and spiromesifen) showed a high degree of compatibility with egg parasitoid releases. The second group (azadirachtin and chlorantraniliprole, and methomyl) presented compatibility problems. Finally, the last group (emamectin, methomyl, and spinosad) did not apper to be compatible. The results found will allow a better application of IPM programmes in tomato crops for the control of this pest species.

Distribution and molecular identification of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) populations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro

Since 2010, the South American tomato moth - Tuta absoluta (MEYRICK, 1917) (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) - has been recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) and Montenegro. In 2012, pheromone traps were placed among tomato crops growing in greenhouses and open fields in 14 localities in B&H and Montenegro; the pest was caught at all the sites. Adults were caught in both greenhouses and open fields in Trebinje (B&H) on 4th June 2012 and in Ulcinj (Montenegro) in mid-May. Species identification was confirmed by means of morphological characters of adults and male genitalia. In addition, molecular identification of specimens from B&H and Montenegro was performed using mitochondrial (mtDNA) markers.