Tuta absoluta, a South American pest of tomato now in the EPPO region: biology, distribution and damage

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is an invasive pest of tomato native to South America, where it is responsible for extensive damage. It rapidly spread into several European countries becoming a key pest. The knowledge of its main biological traits can be used to develop effective plant protection management strategies. It is a multivoltine species with a homodynamous behaviour and the length of its life-cycle depends on environmental conditions, particularly temperature. The larvae feed and develop inside tomato leaves, stems and fruits throughout the entire growing cycle. The adults have crepuscular habits and in Mediterranean conditions they can be easily detected throughout the year. Damage is directly related to the reduction of the photosynthetic capacity of the plants and of production levels, both in protected and open-field tomato crops; indirect damage can be also caused by secondary infections of pathogens developing on the infested plant and fruit tissues.