Prospects of biological control agents for management of invasive pest Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Africa

Abstract

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is a devastating agricultural pest of global concern, which has spread widely across continents causing substantial economic losses, particularly in tomato cultivation. In Africa the problem is much severe to the extent that farmers are abandoning the crop. Controlling T. absoluta by use of chemical pesticides is profoundly tricky due to development of rapid resistance. Alternative options such as biological controls are either scarce or expensive and only a handful of microbial agents are currently registered for management of T. absoluta in Africa. It has been observed that T. absoluta causes damage and loss in tomato ranging from 50-100% in South America, Europe and Africa where management options are most limited. Although several synthetic pesticides are registered for management of T. absoluta including; chlorantraniliprole spinetoram and emamectin benzoate group, little success are reported in Africa due to various factors including fast resistance development of T. absoluta. Commercially available biopesticides such as; Beauveria bassiana (Bals.),