Biological control of Tuta absoluta in SE Spain

The tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta, is one of the most important pests in greenhouse tomato crops in the South of Spain. It is target of frequent pesticide treatments, which have become very little effective due to resistance of the pest to the available active ingredients. The only sustainable control mechanism of T. absoluta is biological control through beneficial arthropods.

COEXPHAL studies the role of different natural enemies in the control of T. absoluta. The most commonly introduced bio-control agent in tomato, against whitefly and other pests, is the mirid bug Nesidiocoris tenuis. Although this species may contribute to the control of T. absoluta as an egg predator in early stages of the crop, N. tenuis is not sufficiently effective to control the pest in adult plants. Much more important and efficient are the parasitoid wasps of the genus Necremnus (Eulophidae). COEXPHAL have demonstrated that this parasitoid appears spontaneously in all tomato crops in Almería. Efforts to mass rear this species have, until now, not been successful, so it is not commercially available. Therefore, it is important to detect its presence and to respect its biological needs.
This video shows how to recognise Necremnus tutae and how it acts upon T. absoluta larvae. Furthermore, possible measures are suggested to favour parasitism.
Music: 'Crossing the Universe', by Esther García (https://www.jamendo.com/track/1162101/crossing-the-universe)

Видео Biological control of Tuta absoluta in SE Spain канала COEXPHAL