Tuta absoluta in Tunisia: ten years of invasion and pest management

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), a pinworm native to South America, has invaded Tunisia, as well as the whole African continent, since 2008 inducing severe crop damages and substantial economic losses in all tomato-producing areas. During the last decade, several research studies and management efforts have been performed in an attempt to find out the most effective and sustainable pest control options against this devastating pest. Herein we explore, comprehensively summarize and discuss the most up-to-date state of scientific knowledge regarding bio-ecological aspects of the pest, its indigenous natural enemies and all categories of management strategies adopted so far against this economic pest in Tunisia.