Tuta absoluta
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Tuta absoluta is one of the most important insect pests of tomato which posing a serious threat to tomato production across the Mediterranean. This pest is crossing boarders rapidly and devastating tomato production substantially. The newly introduced pest from South America is finding the shores of the Mediterranean a perfect new home where it can breed, between 10-12 generations in a year. Tuta absoluta control is under going major challenge due to its nature of damage as well as its rapid capability of development resistant against conventional insecticides. |
Sex pheromone mediated systems are now accepted as a viable tool to control Tuta absoluta. Application of pheromone baited traps for monitoring is the most common practice. However, tremendous potential of pheromones by integrating various application methods found to be effective control program rather than indiscriminate use of chemical insecticides. Pheromone based new solutions have been developed to combat Tuta absoluta. Russell IPM developed a rage of innovative products, long lasting high catch lure TUA-OPTIMA, combination of light and pheromone together Ferolite, Attract and Kill system TAC-37, sticky roll based pheromone systems Tuta roll and Tuta+ which are available to growers from this season.
Tuta absoluta pheromone
Tuta absoluta sex pheromone trap causes a specific behavioral reaction to male Tuta absoluta by mimicking natural female released pheromone. It attracts male Tuta absoluta to the pheromone source and foolishly ends up into the synthetic source of attraction. As female produced pheromone is highly attracting males, monitoring, Mass Trapping, Attract and Kill could be potentially used to control Tuta absoluta without exposing crop to synthetic toxic substances.
Monitoring:Monitoring is the corner stone of any pest management program. The use of pheromone trap is a reliable monitoring method to detect the presence of Tuta absoluta. Pheromone trap is very useful tool to provide early warning of the infestation and also will alert the user to low level of populations before it become serious.
To optimize the amount of pheromone material required for optimum catch Russell IPM conducted extensive studies. It showed animproved formulation pheromone lure, TUA-Optima delivers additional benefit of constant release for a longer period in hotter climate and a higher trap catch instead of standard 0.5 mg lure available in the market.
The key advantages are as follows:
- Higher catch rate to enable more effective mass trapping programs.
- Longer operating life span particularly in open fields at elevated temperature.
- Steady release rate to ensure consistency of performance throughout the operating life of the lure.
Tuta absoluta monitoring system should be placed in all stages of Tomato production, i.e. nurseries, farms, packing, processing and distribution centers.
As Tuta absoluta is further advancing to hotter climates towards eastern Mediterranean, TUA-optima is a new development to offer added performance excellence under the most challenging field conditions. TUA-optima lures are the best option to maximize the performance of monitoring traps. Its effect will be best felt if used in conjunction with the Ferolite trap (combination of light and pheromone trap).
Mass Trapping with Ferolite:
Russell IPM offers Ferolite based mass trapping solutions. TUAOptima pheromone lure with its high capture rate is ideal for the mass trapping of Tuta absoluta particularly in greenhouse and open field. A successful mass tapping required removal of both sex male and female insect population.
Ferolite is based on the synergy between the insect sex pheromone and a particular light frequency to which the insect is most attracted. Ferolite-TUA is a self contained unit powered by solar energy. The solar-based unit will extend the reach of this technology to remote farms, which normally have no access to main power supply. It is pre-programmed to operate during part of the night when the insect is most active. This feature makes it very specific to trap Tuta absoluta while missing all other insects including beneficial insects.
Application of Ferolite in conjunction with TUA-Optima lure showed a huge improvement to the mass trapping of Tuta absoluta in Tomato cultivations.
The trial showed that Ferolite is a capable of doubling the capture rate of pheromone traps. It captures female insects as well as the male population. Ferolite has proved up to 200-300% more effective than the standard pheromone trap. The synergistic effect of light and pheromone increases the trap catches substantially. The trap performance reduced a significant number background population and the over all number of traps needed to achieve a good level of control.
For more details please visit the Ferolite page as the link below:
Attract and Kill:
Attract and kill is based on the combination of a pheromone (or other attractant) and an insecticide to kill the target pest. The insects responding to the attractant contact the pheromone source and are incapacitated and killed. Whilst similar to mass trapping, this approach does not aim to trap the target pest. It may be more cost-effective than mass trapping, by making the formulation more accessible, and removing problems of trap shyness, as well as trap servicing.
TAC-37 is being applied at green house tomatoes.
Attract and Kill is found to be a very effective approach to control the male adults of Tuta absoluta with minimum amount of pheromone and insecticide application. It will reduce the mating incidence and therefore reducing the number of viable eggs. As it is based on a sustained release matrix, Attract and Kill product can release the pheromone over a long period while sustaining the activity of the contact insecticide throughout the same period. Attract and Kill technique is normally a single application and provides a safe yet constant control over a long period of time.
Russell IMP developed an Attract and Kill system Tac-37, this system contains pheromone and pesticide formulation and reduces the possibility of pesticide resistance by limited application. TAC-37 could be applied using a hand dispensing gun. Application can be mechanized for large scale filed application. The applications of TAC-37 in tomato to manage to keep the insect count less than five insects per trap / day up to over 50 days. Where the application of conventional insecticide was failed to keep the insect count and provide an effective control.
TutaRoll and Tuta+
TutaRoll and Tuta+ are the alternative innovative solutions for the management of Tuta absoluta. These products are sticky rolls where Tuta absoluta pheromone incorporates with sticky glue and releases from the adhesive layer. Russell IPM offers two types of sticky traps, one is a clear sticky film TutaRoll and the other one is yellow coloured Tuta+. The clear film TutaRoll is suitable for green houses where beneficial insects are be being used as biological control.
On the other hand yellow sticky roll Tuta+ is recommended for the green houses where beneficial insects are not in use. The yellow colour of the trap will provide additional advantages of capturing white fly and aphid with the same trap. It is one cost effective, single pre-baited ready to use trap. This roll can be used for mass trapping in green house tomato product to control Tuta absoluta.
More information of Tutaroll please visit the link below:
Considering all Applications of pheromone based products will be an alternative solution to combat Tuta absoluta which are safe, effective and environmentally friendly. Tuta absoluta is moving rapidly to the east to engulf the whole of the Mediterranean countries. It has the potential of inflicting serous and lasting damage to strategic crop for many countries and communities. Application of a bio-rational control strategy will be the sustainable way to deal with Tuta absoluta.
