Biological control strategies for Phthorimaea absoluta
Phthorimaea absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae – EPPO A2 List) is mainly a pest of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) but also affects other economically important hosts. Biological control methods have been implemented against the pest including augmentative, classical, and conservation biological control. Entomopathogenic bacteria, fungi, nematodes and viruses can be used against different life stages of P. absoluta. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bacillaceae) has shown to be effective against larval stages under greenhouse conditions whereas Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales) and Metarhizium anisopliae (Hypocreales) can cause mortality to both the larvae and adults through contact and ingestion. Entomopathogenic nematodes, e.g., Steinernema carpocapsae (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae, Augmentative BCA, PM6/3) and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae, Augmentative BCA, PM6/3) produce a high level of mortality (up to 98 %) to P. absoluta, either on their own or in combination. The entomopathogenic virus, Phthorimaea operculella granulovirus can reduce larval damage on the host and can be used in combination with parasitoids or predators. Egg parasitoids such as Necremnus spp. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) can attack early instar larvae and can be used alone or in combination to achieve reduced damage. Macrolophus pygmaeus (Hemiptera: Miridae, Augmentative BCA, PM6/3) and Nesidiocoris tenuis (Heteroptera: Miridae) are widely used predators which can supress populations by attacking eggs and early larvae stages. Careful use of biological control practices in Integrated Pest Management for the control of P. absoluta can act to reduce chemical pesticide application in greenhouse and field conditions.
Sources
Maake TW, Sibisi P (2006) Biological control strategies for management of invasive pest Phthorimaea absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control 36, 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41938-025-00888-7