Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet EditionPotato tuber moth (298)
Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet EditionPotato tuber moth (298)
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.
Common Name
Potato tuber moth
Scientific Name
Phthorimaea operculella
AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
Information from CABI (2015) Phthorimaea operculella (potato tuber moth). Crop Protection Compendium (www.cabi.org/cpc); and from Harsimran K, et al. (2014) Featured Creatures: Potato tuberworm. UF/IFAS, University of Florida. (http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/VEG/POTATO/potato_tuberworm.htm). Photos 1-3 Western Australian Agriculture Authority (Department of Agriculture and Food. WA). Photos 4&5 MAF Plant Health & Enviroment Laboratory (2011) Potato Tuber Moth (Phthorimaea operculella. (PaDIL - (https://www.padil.gov.au).
Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
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