Why an integrated approach is best

I as soon as used a organic product to manage Tuta absoluta (tomato leaf miner) in my very own tomato crop. Unfortunately, the producer ceased manufacturing of the product. But as a result of I used to be utilizing my crop solely for breeding functions, I determined to cease spraying for the pest.

Last 12 months, the vegetation suffered a good quantity of injury; this 12 months, there was a lot much less. I planted my first tunnel as quickly because the frost was previous and the ultimate tunnel began maturing in March. There is little or no injury to those tomatoes, even if I’ve by no means sprayed them or used traps.

I planted 1 / 4 of the tunnel to a cherry tomato selection a lot later than the remainder of the crop. This is simply beginning to set fruit, whereas the remainder have been ripe for a while; but there is no signal of the pest or larvae on this batch.

Taking a more in-depth take a look at the vegetation, I not too long ago discovered a variety of Macrolophus spp in varied levels of improvement, in addition to the occasional Nesidiocoris tenuis. Both are mirid bugs that prey on T. absoluta and different pests. Macrolophus is now gaining management of T. absoluta in my tunnel.

Slight plant injury
More than 20 European international locations are actually utilizing Macrolophus for pest management, and these are bought to tomato farmers.

When their prey is not obtainable in ample numbers, Macrolophus spp can survive by feeding on the tomato vegetation themselves, and there are data of flower drop and different injury when their populations are very excessive. Nonetheless, they like insect eggs and first-instar larvae.

Generally, the small quantity of potential injury is well worth the safety supplied by the bugs. They additionally feed on whitefly, aphids and thrips.

We nonetheless have a lot to be taught concerning the native Macrolophus bugs. They could, for instance, be higher tailored to our situations than these imported from the Netherlands. Whatever the case, they’re apparently straightforward to rear.

Another group of helpful bugs is Trichogramma spp parasitoids. These are minute wasps that parasitise the eggs of the tomato leaf miner and different pests. There are many within the genus, with some being extra particular in what they management and others having a wider vary of prey.

In time, extra pure enemies will make their presence felt. It is reported that among the imported pure predators are usually not nicely tailored to excessive temperatures. As the within of my tunnels can get notably sizzling, this would possibly point out that our native bugs are higher tailored.

Another approach is to set pheromone traps, which can be found from suppliers of native organic merchandise. These are an efficient instrument for decreasing tomato leaf miner populations.

A mixed approach
Control of this pest is not a matter of a one-size-fits-all approach and there is nonetheless a steep studying curve forward. What is sure is that, ultimately, we will must go over to integrated pest administration with a mixture of helpful bugs and pesticides that don’t hurt the pure enemies of T. absoluta.

This approach additionally signifies that tomato farmers have to hold out way more scouting and research to actually get the higher of this extremely harmful pest.

Bill Kerr is a vegetable specialist and breeder of a spread of greens.