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Background <p>The tomato leaf miner, <i>Phthorimaea absoluta</i> (formerly <i>Tuta absoluta</i>), is a highly destructive invasive pest that threatens global tomato, <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>, crop production. Larvae feed on the mesophyll, causing necrosis, reduced photosynthetic capacity, defoliation, fruit damage, and significant yield losses. For decades, synthetic chemical insecticides have been the primary means of control. However, their continued use has raised concerns due to adverse effects on human health, environmental contamination, pest resistance development, and the degradation of ecosystem integrity.</p> Main body <p>In response to these challenges, this review highlights sustainable and integrated, eco-friendly management strategies, including biological control agents, pheromones, and tolerant cultivars. Among these, <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> strain Ta1, an entomopathogenic bacterium highlighted in the review, presents strong potential for use in the integrated management programs targeting <i>P. absoluta</i> due to its ability to produce lepidopteran-specific toxic proteins.</p> Conclusion <p>This review summarises the pest control methods previously employed by farmers and identifies biological control agents as the most effective control measures from the farmers’ perspective, which can effectively reduce their overreliance on chemical pesticides. The review concludes with recommendations for future research priorities to support sustainable control of this globally significant pest.</p>

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Biological control strategies for management of invasive pest Phthorimaea absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月23日

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  • Takalani Whitney Maake,
  • Phumzile Sibisi

摘要

Background

The tomato leaf miner, Phthorimaea absoluta (formerly Tuta absoluta), is a highly destructive invasive pest that threatens global tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, crop production. Larvae feed on the mesophyll, causing necrosis, reduced photosynthetic capacity, defoliation, fruit damage, and significant yield losses. For decades, synthetic chemical insecticides have been the primary means of control. However, their continued use has raised concerns due to adverse effects on human health, environmental contamination, pest resistance development, and the degradation of ecosystem integrity.

Main body

In response to these challenges, this review highlights sustainable and integrated, eco-friendly management strategies, including biological control agents, pheromones, and tolerant cultivars. Among these, Bacillus thuringiensis strain Ta1, an entomopathogenic bacterium highlighted in the review, presents strong potential for use in the integrated management programs targeting P. absoluta due to its ability to produce lepidopteran-specific toxic proteins.

Conclusion

This review summarises the pest control methods previously employed by farmers and identifies biological control agents as the most effective control measures from the farmers’ perspective, which can effectively reduce their overreliance on chemical pesticides. The review concludes with recommendations for future research priorities to support sustainable control of this globally significant pest.