Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds

View full fact sheet

Summary

• Worldwide distribution. On potato, tomato and tobacco, the main hosts. An important pest.
• Eggs laid on leaves, and the leaves and stems mined. As soil cracks, larvae attack tubers near soil surface. Damage causes rots. Spread is in seed tubers.
• Natural enemies: wasp parasitoids and parasites.
• Cultural control: certified seed; remove volunteers; weeds; tolerant varieties; deep planting; test onion intercrops; hill-up; avoid overlapping crops; crop rotation; mulch before harvest; avoid cull piles.
• Chemical control: sprays of abamectin, spinosad, or synthetic pyrethroids. Neem in storage.