The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), was first recorded in Sicily during fall 2008, on tomato and eggplant protected crops. Soon after this report, several control measures were defined in the framework of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies. To this aim, investigations have been carried out to acquire data on the pest population dynamics in open field through the study of the male flight trends. From April 2009 to May 2012, pheromone traps (Delta type) and digital temperature and humidity loggers were installed in six horticultural areas located in Western Sicily, Catania and Ragusa provinces. The selection of the monitoring sites was based on the presence of tomato cultivations and on the different ecological traits of the neighbouring areas. In the meantime, periodical surveys were also performed on nearby tomato crops in order to evaluate the pest infestation levels and the presence of natural enemies. The data showed that the flight activity of T. absoluta males throughout the four-year investigation period was continuously observed in all the monitoring stations and it showed typical peaks of high and low capture levels during late summer and late winter, respectively. The trend on the captures are not homogeneous among the studied sites and they varied significantly in function of the thermal extremes, the neighbouring ecological conditions and the availability of more susceptible plants, particularly tomato crops. Indeed, the moth flights, recorded in one site characterized by open field horticulture (Catania), were significantly lower, likely owing to the higher level of crops diversity and of biocontrol agent’s activity, notably by the mirid predator Nesidiocoris tenuis. Overall, the obtained data show that the flight activity has slightly decreased during the four years of investigation and it is noteworthy that the pest infestation level on tomato cultivations in open field and even in protected crops is considerably declining. This tendency, recently observed also in the Western Mediterranean countries, can be attributed both to the adaptation of indigenous natural enemies as well as to the improved IPM strategies against the exotic pest. These latter are currently based on pest monitoring and they include mass-trapping techniques, application of highly selective insecticides, such as microbial products and rational habitat management aimed to enhance conservation biocontrol. The information acquired during the four-year observations provide useful indications for the correct understanding of male captures allowing to adapt the data to the different agro-ecological conditions.

Four-year flight dynamics of Tuta absoluta in Sicily and implications for IPM strategies

SISCARO, Gaetano;BIONDI, ANTONIO;Tropea Garzia G;ZAPPALA', LUCIA
2012-01-01

Abstract

The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), was first recorded in Sicily during fall 2008, on tomato and eggplant protected crops. Soon after this report, several control measures were defined in the framework of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies. To this aim, investigations have been carried out to acquire data on the pest population dynamics in open field through the study of the male flight trends. From April 2009 to May 2012, pheromone traps (Delta type) and digital temperature and humidity loggers were installed in six horticultural areas located in Western Sicily, Catania and Ragusa provinces. The selection of the monitoring sites was based on the presence of tomato cultivations and on the different ecological traits of the neighbouring areas. In the meantime, periodical surveys were also performed on nearby tomato crops in order to evaluate the pest infestation levels and the presence of natural enemies. The data showed that the flight activity of T. absoluta males throughout the four-year investigation period was continuously observed in all the monitoring stations and it showed typical peaks of high and low capture levels during late summer and late winter, respectively. The trend on the captures are not homogeneous among the studied sites and they varied significantly in function of the thermal extremes, the neighbouring ecological conditions and the availability of more susceptible plants, particularly tomato crops. Indeed, the moth flights, recorded in one site characterized by open field horticulture (Catania), were significantly lower, likely owing to the higher level of crops diversity and of biocontrol agent’s activity, notably by the mirid predator Nesidiocoris tenuis. Overall, the obtained data show that the flight activity has slightly decreased during the four years of investigation and it is noteworthy that the pest infestation level on tomato cultivations in open field and even in protected crops is considerably declining. This tendency, recently observed also in the Western Mediterranean countries, can be attributed both to the adaptation of indigenous natural enemies as well as to the improved IPM strategies against the exotic pest. These latter are currently based on pest monitoring and they include mass-trapping techniques, application of highly selective insecticides, such as microbial products and rational habitat management aimed to enhance conservation biocontrol. The information acquired during the four-year observations provide useful indications for the correct understanding of male captures allowing to adapt the data to the different agro-ecological conditions.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/104408
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