First report of Tuta absoluta in Nepal
In May 2016, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae – EPPO A2 List) was found for the first time in Nepal. The pest was detected in a commercial tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) crop in Kathmandu. During surveys conducted from May to June 2016, T. absoluta was found in 14 locations out of 17. Results showed that the pest was present in all major tomato-growing areas surveyed: Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Kavrepalanchok districts. In addition, T. absoluta was found in 1 location in Dhading district. The pest was collected from altitudes ranging from 725 m to 1664 m. It is concluded that, as T. absoluta is likely to continue to spread in Nepal, Integrated Pest Management strategies should be rapidly implemented.
The situation of Tuta absoluta in Nepal can be described as follows: Present, first found in 2016 in several districts (Bhaktapur, Dhading, Kathmandu, Kavrepalanchok and Lalitpur).
Sources
Bajracharya ASR, Mainali RP, Bhat B, Bista S, Shashank PR, Meshram NM (2016) The first record of South American tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Nepal. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 4(4), 1359-1363. http://www.entomoljournal.com/archives/2016/vol4issue4/PartO/4-4-95-749.pdf