Occurrence of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in the Malnad and Hyderabad-Karnataka Regions of Karnataka, India

Authors

  • CM Kalleshwaraswamy Department of Entomology University of Agriculture and Horticultural Sciences
  • M. Shankara Murthy College of Agriculture, Bheemarayana Gudi-585 287, University of Agriculture Sciences, Raichur, India
  • C. A. Viraktamath University of Agricultural Sciences, Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, Bangalore-560 065, India
  • N. K. Krishna Kumar Deputy Director General (Horticulture), Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Pusa, New Delhi-110 012, India

Keywords:

invasive species, Solanum lycopersicum, Solanum tuberosum, tomato leafminer

Abstract

In Jan and Feb 2015, the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), was found to have entered and established in the Malnad and Hyderabad-Karnataka Regions of Karnataka, India, where it is infesting tomato and potato crops. To our knowledge, this is the first record of T. absoluta in these regions of India. The incidence recorded appears to be comparatively small at some locations, but this damaging insect may spread to other regions of India and cause serious crop loss in the future. Probably, the introduced populations are resistant to various insecticides, and management of insecticideresistant populations poses additional problems.

 

Sumario

En enero y febrero de 2015, la polilla del tomate, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), se encontró que habia entrado y estableció en las regiones de Malnad y Hyderabad-Karnataka de Karnataka, India. Hasta donde sabemos, este es el primer registro de Tuta absoluta en estas regiones de la India. La incidencia registrada parece ser relativamente pequeña en algunos lugares, pero puede extenderse a otras regiones de la India y causar daños graves en el futuro. Es probable que las poblaciones introducidas son resistentes a diversos insecticidas, y el manejo de las poblaciones resistentes a los insecticidas plantea problemas adicionales.

 

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Scientific Notes