Tuta absoluta detected again in the Netherlands
As reported in EPPO RS 2009/024, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae – EPPO A1 List) was detected for the first time in the Netherlands in January 2009. Three specimens were caught in pheromone traps in a packing station of tomatoes. At the beginning of May 2009, limited damage to a few fruits and leaves caused by larvae of T. absoluta was observed in a glasshouse producing tomato fruits. This outbreak was detected in the glasshouse of the same company where the pest was first detected in January 2009. This company has tomato packaging and sorting facilities adjacent to a production glasshouse, and is specialized in packaging vine tomatoes originating from Spain. Therefore, it is suspected that the origin of the finding is most likely a consignment of tomatoes that has been transported to the Dutch packaging facility from the infested area in Spain. At this Dutch company, 38 adults were caught in pheromone traps.
A country-wide survey using pheromone traps has been carried out in 80 tomato fruit-producing facilities and in all packaging stations. As a result, another production site was found infested where 11 adults were trapped. In addition, continuous and multiple (several hundreds) adult findings have been recorded in pheromone traps at packaging stations. Eradication measures have been taken at the infested production sites. Active surveillance will continue in the Netherlands, in both production and packaging sites. Tomato growers and trade companies will be informed about this outbreak and the possible risks that T. absoluta present for tomato production.
The pest status of Tuta absoluta in the Netherlands is officially declared as: Transient, actionable, under surveillance. Isolated populations not expected to establish. Appropriate phytosanitary measures, including surveillance are being applied.
Sources
INTERNET (last retrieved in 2009-06)
Website of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. Pest Report - Tuta absoluta Povolny (Gelechiidae) – tomato leaf miner - in tomato fruit greenhouse in The Netherlands. http://www.minlnv.nl/cdlpub/servlet/CDLServlet?p_file_id=38924