The South America Tomato Leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), Spreads Its Wings in Eastern Africa: Distribution and Socioeconomic Impacts

Abstract

Following the arrival of Tuta absoluta Meyrick in the eastern African subregion in 2012, several studies have shown numerous ecological aspects of its invasion. We investigated the impact of T. absoluta on people’s livelihoods across four counties of Kenya. Here, 200 farmers in the country were interviewed in person using semistructured questionnaires. In addition to livelihood surveys, T. absoluta distribution was mapped between 2016 and 2018 to determine its current distribution across four countries (Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda) in the subregion. Albeit a recent invader, T. absoluta is abundant and distributed throughout the subregion and is viewed as the worst invasive alien species of agriculturally sustainable livelihoods by tomato farmers. The arrival of T. absoluta in the subregion has resulted in livelihood losses and increased both the cost of tomato production and frequency of pesticide application. We recommend the implementation of biological control along, with other control measures in an integrated approach, against T. absoluta in the subregion, where its impact on sustainable livelihoods is serious and long-term control strategies are required to curb its detrimental effects.

Entomopathogenic fungus isolates for adult Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) management and their compatibility with Tuta pheromone

“…Hence, the impact of Tuta infestation includes severe yield loss, increasing tomato prices, trade restrictions of tomato including seedlings, increase in conventional insecticide applications and cost of crop protection and disruption of integrated management programs of other tomato pests. Increased use of synthetic pesticides is currently the commonly used management strategy that augments risks for growers, consumers and the associated environment (Zappalà et al., 2012; Zlof & Suffert, 2012; Aigbedion‐Atalor et al., 2019).…”

Endophytic fungi protect tomato and nightshade plants against Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) through a hidden friendship and cryptic battle

“…In Kenya, both tomato and nightshade crops are the most preferred hosts for the tomato leafminer with high infestation causing up to 100% yield losses on tomato 4 . Estimates of the economic losses due to this pest reaches as high as US$ 59.3 million annually 5 . Ovipositing female lays eggs on the upper surface of tomato leaves which hatch after four to five days.…”

Biological invasion risk assessment of Tuta absoluta: mechanistic versus correlative methods

“…The invasive range of T. absoluta now includes many developing countries that are under-resourced to implement policies for preventing and managing biological invasions (Measey et al 2019). In eight years, the species invaded the whole African continent (Biondi et al 2018;Biondi and Desneux 2019) where it threatens the food security and livelihoods of subsistence farmers of solanaceous crops (Pratt et al 2017;Aigbedion-Atalor et al 2019). In East Africa alone, estimated annual losses to T. absoluta in mixed small farming systems are estimated to be 69.6-79.4 million USD (Pratt et al 2017).…”