Biocontrol is working best when you know not only the "Lab Olympics Gold medal winners" among potential natural enemies, but also the local/regional climate conditions and competing beneficials.

Tomato is an excellent crop for biocontrol success because the micro climate (relative humidity, temperature buffering under the leaf cover) in the canopy is promoting diversity. If furrel irrigated, there is standing water for larval parasitoids. There is not "the best species" but the best conditions for some of the species. And there is the best moment when to release any biocontrol agent, what means developing exact forecast systems.

Egg parasitoids would be better than larval parasitoids or predators, as eggs don't harm the crop. Being eliminated is perfect.

Our experience: Helicoverpa eggs in tomato for industry in Southern Portugal had at least 4 Trichogramma species associated in the open field, having slightly different responses to climate conditions and thus sharing the resource "host egg". When egg densities were low, (in the beginning and end of the H. armigera attacks), a Scelionid, Telenomus heliothidi was most efficient, because it could find isolated eggs. But when Trichogramma came in, their competitive advantage, lesser cycle length and more individuals per host egg, made them more efficient. All together have been found to reduce larval hatching about 80%.

The remaining 20% of larvae were parasitized by Apantheles kazak (65%) and Hyposoter didymator (10%), according to larval age. We found also Chrysoperla carnea eggs (parasited by released Trichogramma, too, when doing active biocontrol), and larvae. Generalist predators like Nezara viridis sucking out eggs and larvae, and web spiders controlling adults, have been registered. More adult control might have occurred by bats and owls, but could not be quantified. Overwintering pupae in the soil were predated by other birds when tractors moved the surface layer of the fields.

By this I want to attract your attention to the fact, that an exact knowledge of the chosen species (pests and natural enemies) must be understood as to their biology and response to the existing microclimate conditions in the crop to fully lead to success.

Sorry not to be able to give you a more satisfying response.

Here in Brazil Trichogramma pretiosum was the most effective. There are many papers about it. http://scholar.google.com.br/scholar?q=tuta+absoluta+%2B+trichogramma&hl=pt-BR&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart&sa=X&ei=-gX9UujrGOmSiQfNqIG4Aw&ved=0CCkQgQMwAA

Biocontrol is working best when you know not only the "Lab Olympics Gold medal winners" among potential natural enemies, but also the local/regional climate conditions and competing beneficials.

Tomato is an excellent crop for biocontrol success because the micro climate (relative humidity, temperature buffering under the leaf cover) in the canopy is promoting diversity. If furrel irrigated, there is standing water for larval parasitoids. There is not "the best species" but the best conditions for some of the species. And there is the best moment when to release any biocontrol agent, what means developing exact forecast systems.

Egg parasitoids would be better than larval parasitoids or predators, as eggs don't harm the crop. Being eliminated is perfect.

Our experience: Helicoverpa eggs in tomato for industry in Southern Portugal had at least 4 Trichogramma species associated in the open field, having slightly different responses to climate conditions and thus sharing the resource "host egg". When egg densities were low, (in the beginning and end of the H. armigera attacks), a Scelionid, Telenomus heliothidi was most efficient, because it could find isolated eggs. But when Trichogramma came in, their competitive advantage, lesser cycle length and more individuals per host egg, made them more efficient. All together have been found to reduce larval hatching about 80%.

The remaining 20% of larvae were parasitized by Apantheles kazak (65%) and Hyposoter didymator (10%), according to larval age. We found also Chrysoperla carnea eggs (parasited by released Trichogramma, too, when doing active biocontrol), and larvae. Generalist predators like Nezara viridis sucking out eggs and larvae, and web spiders controlling adults, have been registered. More adult control might have occurred by bats and owls, but could not be quantified. Overwintering pupae in the soil were predated by other birds when tractors moved the surface layer of the fields.

By this I want to attract your attention to the fact, that an exact knowledge of the chosen species (pests and natural enemies) must be understood as to their biology and response to the existing microclimate conditions in the crop to fully lead to success.

Sorry not to be able to give you a more satisfying response.

As mentioned above, in Brazil, T. pretiosum is one of the most successful biological control agents used against T. absoluta. Although, in many cases, Bacillus Thuringiensis is used in combination, increasing the rate of mortality.

Hope it helps!

I've seen several papaers showing that Trichogramma pretiosum is the most eficcient, mainly because it is an egg parasitoid and should have efficacy before the larvae goes inside the tissues of the plant.

In addition to the answers above, I could recommend you to contact Joop van Lenteren ([email protected]) or Jolein Smit ([email protected]); they are just involved in a biocontrol project of Tuta in Brazil, and Prof. van Lenteren is quite an authority on biocontrol, as you may know.

In Morocco and especially in Agadir Region (southwestern of Morocco) witch is know for greenhouse tomato production, biological control against Tuta absoluta is mainly an integrated mean. We often use Macrolophus pygmaeus (formerly known as Macrolophus caliginosus) combined with Nesidiocoris tenuis. In addition to antagonists we use species specific pheromones, and a mass trapping with covered spot yellow light over a container full of 2 liter of water+ 1/2 liter of sunflower oil (kitchen oil) to trap adults during the night (adults see the light in the oil and not the real lamp, so they got trapped in it!). PS. the oil come on the top of water, and you know why!! water is used for economic reasons, we won't use 2,5 liter of oil!

The Souss-Massa region, located in the south Atlantic coastal, is a major tomato-producing area of Morocco. It represent than more 80% of Tomato production in greenhouses and exporting about 90% to the European Union (EU). The tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta) is an emergent devastating tomato pest that could cause as much as 100% loss of production with serious financial consequences to farmers. It was reported in Morocco at 2008. Since its introduction, chemical control has been the main method of control used against T. absoluta . To reduce the insect attack, farmers use intensively some insecticides. However, the chemical control of T. absoluta is very difficult because of its biology (high fecundity and larvae protected in mines) and also because of low efficacy of chemicals and resistance phenomenon. Also, the pesticides usage was often associated with secondary negative effects in term of reduction of soil activity, residue accumulation in fruits and groundwater contamination.

Up until 2009, biological crop protection in Morocco was still in the pioneering phase. The arrival of Tuta absoluta changed things dramatically. Growers were forced to switch almost overnight, as there were a few chemical pesticides that could cope with T. absoluta. The majority of Moroccan growers now successfully try to use Nesidiocoris tenui and Macrolophus pygmaeus to control T. absoluta and their possibilities to be used in some IPM program.

In Argentina, the most important parasitoid is a braconid Pseudoapanteles dingus. It parasitizes young larvae of Tuta absoluta and it is commonly found even in tomatoes under conventional management (where the chemical control is the main tool for Tuta control). Besides, our previous studies have shown its high tolerance to pesticides even towards conventional ones such as pyrethroids. I agree with other researchers whose comments appear below, that the success of a natural enemy depends of a lot factors (biological, ecological, weather, crop management, etc). In my country there is a team with several years focusing on biological control of Tuta absoluta with P. dingus (see i.e. Luna, M.G., Sánchez, N.E. and Pereyra, P.C. 2007. Parasitism of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) by Pseudapanteles dignus (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) under Laboratory Conditions. Environ. Entomol. 36(4): 887-893; Sánchez, N.E., Pereyra, P.C. and Luna, M.G. 2009. Spatial patterns of parasitism of the solitary parasitoid Pseudapanteles dignus (Muesebeck) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on the tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Environ. Entomol. 38(2): 365-374

Based on a lab work has been done in my department, Trichogramma achaeae is the best Trichogrammatid parasitoids in controlling Tuta absoluta. Most puzzling was the fact that as many papers from Brazil and Spain show that Trichogramma pretiosum as Eraldo Lima mentioned is the best egg parasitoid in controlling T. absoluta, we have therefore introduced such parasitoid from the US, but my colleagues found that local strains (Trichogramma evanescens, T. acacioi and Trichogrammatoidea bactrae) are still better in terms of controlling this pest under laboratory and greenhouse experiment (in cages) conditions.

There are at least three different species of Necremnus that parasitize the T. absoluta in Europe and North Africa. The Necremnus tidius parasitizes only weevils. I've personally used Necremnus near artynes ​​produced by an Italian biofactory and the parasitoid is not able to control the T. absoluta even though it is one of the most present in the field samplings.

In our case, we have best results using predators than parasitoids. And Nesidiocoris tenuis is the best biological agent against the pest.

I asked a colleague who has worked on Tuta and his reply was look at

http://www.tutaabsoluta.com/tuta-absoluta for information.

Dear all,

Thank you so much for your kind and precious contributions!!

Let’s go ahead now. What do you think about the degree of efficiency of the two following parasitoid species (both are larval parasitoids, with different biological/behavioral aspects) against Tuta absoluta, as compared to the other hymenopteran species (especially Trichogramma spp. and Necremnus spp.) known to parasitize eggs or larvae of this pest: a/ Dineulophus phtorimaeae de Santis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae): a species native to South America, and b/ Bracon nigricans Szepligeti (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): a species commonly found in the Palaearctic region ? Considering possible occurrence of problems of parasitoids’ adaptation to newly invaded areas (areas not belonging to South America), what would you recommend to use in the Palaearctic (Europe - North Africa - Asia) region: indigenous or imported (exotic, originated from South America) parasitoid species for ensuring more successful control of this invasive pest?

Cheers

I would prefer indigenous parasitoid species, reforced by timely releases after careful mass rearing respecting quality control (See Van Lenteren, Quality Control of mass reared arthropods, Elsevier). If they exist, they are already "in balance" with the remaining system. Our observations: We have, in 1984, introduced into corn fields in Odemira region, Southern Portugal, Trichogramma evanescens from Germany (Hassan), selected through lab experiments to be very active. They were so successful that they eliminated the eggs of Ostrinia nubilalis, on the leaf surfaces, but couldn't control Sesamia nonagrioides (hidden under the "comb of hair" of leafs at the stems. The ovipositor of Trichogramma is shorter than that of Telenomus). These Sesamia eggs would have been controlled at least partly by Telenomus, what we observed in other fields. We suppose that the introduced egg parasitoids unbalanced the system, because they also occupied egg resources that would have kept Telenomus in the environment. The result was a total loss of the experimental plot, due to Sesamia. There might have been a dosage problem (releasing too big quantities to be sure...). Managing ecosystems is somewhat tricky.

In China, we using chlorpyrifos(ANSI,ISO,BSI), abamectin, fipronil and Nicotine to contorl it.

Dear Dr. Xiangshun Hu,

Regardless of the efficiency of the insecticides you mentioned, do you think that using these insecticides would be an adequate "eco-friendly" tool to control T. absoluta?

I personally prefer using environmentally safe tactics (respecting both the human and plant health and surrounding environment) such as biocontrol agents, especially parasitoid wasps (or predators, to a lesser extent) than applying broad-spectrum insecticides with "obviously" harmfum side effects on the key biotic components of the ecosystem.

Biological control of the tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta by egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma is the most suitable technique. In each country there are several species of Trichogramma that can be mass reared and released.

Trichogramma species are prefered because they develop in Lepidoptera eggs.

However, tomato cultivation needs several pesticides sprays to control pests which can be lethal for parasitoids. Under organic farming tomato acreage in Tunisia is still low due mainly to the pest occurrence especially the whitefly Bemisia tabaci given the TYLC Virus.

You may want to see the attached info.

Regards

Thank you Saleem for the attached info. Macrolophus pygmaeus is also a predator of Bemisia tabaci larvae.

In fact, despite the better potential (higher overall efficiency) of combined use of Trichogramma parasitoids and generalist mirid predators in controlling Tuta absoluta, in some circumstances, the presence of predators (example: the case of the predator Macrolophus pygmaeus) can have negative effects on egg parasitization by Trichogramma parasitoids (the case of Trichogramma achaeae); this can be observed when intraguild predation occurs on T. absoluta eggs that were already parasitized by Trichogramma parasitoids. This intraguild predation would in fact depend on the developmental stage of T. achaeae inside the T. absoluta egg. More details about these possible facts can be found in this article (by Chailleux et al., 2013) through the following link:

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10340-013-0498-6

However, overall, based on the related recent research studies, combining the use of mirid predators and release of Trichogramma parasitoids would be the most promising biocontrol way to achieve higher control level of the pest T. absoluta. A suitable decision-making about the most adequate timing for parasitoid release should be highly considered in this case.

There are some effective parasitoids on Tuta obsoluta in Turkey in open field as seen in the attached paper. In our experiment we observed that Bt application + natural enemies come from natural habitats preserved around the tomato fields make a good result.

We also obtained that the first instar larvae of Tuta when reach to second instar it move out of its gallery and make a new gallery go into it. During this movement it can take Bt spors if they present on tomato leaf.

Best regards,

Mikdat

Very interesting work indeed.

Dear Dr. Mikdat DOĞANLAR,

Thank you very much for your answer and for providing your interesting article.

I wish you all the success in your research studies in Turkey.

Best regards,

Ramzi

Thanks for all of you

In Iran Tuta absoluta is a new pest and Bracon hebetor is one of the natural enemies of it.

Dear Abbas,

Thank you for your contribution. But what about the degree of efficiency of the parasitoid Bracon hebetor, compared to other parasitoid species, in controlling Tuta absoluta in Iran? Are there related research studies performed in your country?

Dear Ramzi,

Research is ongoing and has not ended yet. Please look to the attached article about the related work in Sudan.

Regards

Abbas

Dear Abbas,

Thank you so much for your response and for providing this work performed in Sudan.

I wish you all the progress and success in your research studies in Iran.

Best regards,

Ramzi

The best option would be to use egg parasitoid, Trichogramma, may be most dominant species in your region. I feel you can use T. chilonis or T. pretiosum. You can also obtain a parasitoid, Copidosoma koehleri, which was used successfully for biological control of another gelechiid, Phthorimaea operculella, in India. I think you can approach International Potato Center (CIP), Lima, Peru, for culture.

Dear Dr. Jalali,

Thank you very much for your precious contribution!!

Best regards,

Ramzi

Ramzi

Have you tried with baculovirus?? We are just starting a project with local baculovirus developed on Ptorimea opperculella and also want to look on local baculovirus, our experience in the pest is about nothing, but I am agree with carola message, look in the local conditions well adapted parasitoids must work better.

I am really agree with Dr Carola Mierrose

Dear Mr. Solorzano,

Thank you for your contribution. In fact I personally prefer using natural enemies (especially efficient parasitoids) instead of using baculovirus or other microorganisms for controlling Tuta absoluta. Anyway I wish you good luck in your research studies on the use of baculovirus (I already have an idea on this way of pest control in South America, and I think that the use of local baculovirus is suggested in this case).

Best regards,

Ramzi

Generally best effective natural enemies of any invasive species are those associated with the original habitat of the host ......

Identification of Natural Enemies of Tuta absoluta in jordan

 Biweekly field visits starting from January to the end of April 2011 were conducted to tomato fields

(open and plastic houses) heavily infested with the tomato borer Tuta absoluta, in order to survey natural

enemies associated with this pest. Three hemipterans were found: Orius albidipennis, Orius sp. (Anthocoridae)

and Nesidiocoris tenuis (Miridae). In addition, the parasitic wasp Bracon (Habrobracon) concolorans,

(Hymenoptera: Brachonidae) is recorded for the first time from Jordan.

Biweekly field trips were conducted to collect natural enemies associated with T. absoluta in heavily

infested tomato fields in the different parts of Jordan from January to the end of April 2011.The survey

included farms in Central and Southern Jordan Valley (Ghour As Safi, at southern tip of the Dead Sea). The

specimens were collected by aspirator or by direct picking from tomato in open fields and plastic houses. Most of

the natural enemies, especially the parasites, were collected after the infestation exceeded the economic

injury level and no more insecticides were applied. The specimens were kept in small vials containing 75% alcohol

and sent to the National History Museum in UK to confirm our preliminary identifications. Voucher

specimens were preserved in the University of Jordan Insect Museum.

Bracon (Habrobracon) Concolorans (Marshall, 1900), (Hymenoptera: Brachonidae)

Orius Albidipennis (Reuter, 1884) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)

Orius Sp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)

Nesidiocoris Tenuis (Reuter, 1895)

 ......................................................................................................................................................

World Applied Sciences Journal 17 (5): 589-592, 2012

ISSN 1818-4952

© IDOSI Publications, 2012

Corresponding Author: Ahmad Katbeh- Bader, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jordan, Amman 11942 Jordan. E-mail; [email protected] Tel: 009626-5355000. Extension. 22521. 589

First Observation and Identification of Some Natural Enemies

Collected from Heavily Infested Tomato by Tuta absoluta

(Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Jordan

1Ibrahim J. Al-Jboory, 2Ahmad Katbeh- Bader and 3Al-Zaidi Shakir

1Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad, Iraq

2Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jordan, Amman 11942 Jordan

3Russell IPM, 68 Third Avenue, Deeside Industrial Park, Flinshire, CH5 2LA, UK

Ramzi, in southern spain the use of seedlings that are inoculated with Nesidiocoris tenuis is providing great results. This is being performed as a wide area approach in Almeria and growers are very satisfied.

In Egypt, we evaluated three species of Trichogramma (evanescens, pretiosum and T. cacoeciae) and one species of Trichogrammatoidea bactrae. In fact, the most effecient one was Trichogrammatoidea bactrae. It was more efective than thge most recommended one in Spain (T. achaea) and T. preiosum), which is recommended in latin Americ and Chile.

We tried to use Nesidiocorus, but farmers were psychologically were not ready and never appreciate its use due to its phytophagy of this predator and flowers malformation and drop

Dear all,

I can see through the present discussion that in some cases (such as in Spain and in Morocco), predatory mirid bugs, mainly Nesidiocoris tenuis, are the most promising natural enemies (better than parasitoids) used to achieve satisfactory control of T. absoluta. In this respect, based on your experiences (or based on your colleagues’ experiences), what is currently more recommended in your countries: using parasitoids or using predators for controlling T. absoluta?

Personally, I think that differences in the meteorological and tomato-growing conditions, the frequency of insecticide applications and the degree (high, medium, or low) of infestation by T. absoluta (and periods of its presence on tomato) between countries having phytosanitary problems caused by this pest could play a key role in the choice of the right natural enemy to be used. On the other hand, do you think that a combined use of predators and parasitoids, considering all conditions mentioned above, could be a more successful tactic for controlling T. absoluta ?

Cheers

To add to the information from Ignacio, I've seen the excellent control in Almeria of Tuta absoluta with Nesidiocoris tenuis. I was very impressed as it's a very effective solution and you shouldnt need to use any other predators or parasitoids (competition for food may be detrimental). I am familiar with the Syngenta Bioline product Nesiline T. Here's a link if you want to look at the use information. http://www.syngenta.com/global/Bioline/en/products/allproducts/Pages/Nesilinet.aspx

Dear all,

In the framework of our discussion on the performance of a combined use of predator(s) and parasitoid(s) for controlling Tuta absoluta, I would like to inform you that a recent article entitled “Can interactions between an omnivorous Hemipteran and an egg parasitoid limit the level of biological control for the tomato pinworm?” (by Tomas Cabello et al. (2015)) has been recently published (Environmental Entomology Advance Access published January 23, 2015). As you can notify from the title, the subject of this article, which is now freely available on the internet, is indeed strictly linked to the topic of our discussion.

In this work, the authors studied the possibility (and the consequences) of using the omnivorous predator Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) and the egg parasitoid Trichogramma achaeae Nagaraja and Nagarkatti for controlling T. absoluta. Interestingly, the authors concluded that the presence of both natural enemies (predator and parasitoid) resulted in a better control of T. absoluta relative to the use of any of these natural enemies alone to control the pest. For more details about this interesting work, you can find out the full related article through the following link:

http://ee.oxfordjournals.org/content/ee/early/2015/01/23/ee.nvu017.full.pdf

Regards

Biological Control Agents Against Tuta absoluta

See attached table

Hi Refki,

Thanks for your contribution in this discussion and for providing this table with all of these species of biocontrol agents. To match the aim of our discussion, according to your experience in this area of research, which species of parasitoids (you mentioned in this table) could be considered as the most promising in controlling T. absoluta? Undoubtedly, not all of the species you mentioned are sufficiently effective against this pest.........

Best,

Ramzi

Hi Ramzi

Frankly, according to the studies of my colleagues in Tunisia the family of Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae in general is the most tested and they give good results

Refki

Hi Refki,

Thanks for your response. Yes, that's right indeed !! 

Best,

Ramzi

Dear all,

I'm pleased to share with you our recently accepted article, providing all info about Tuta absoluta (including parasitoid releases as biocontrol option) in the African continent:

Article Occurrence, biology, natural enemies and management of Tuta ...

Best,

Ramzi

Trichogramma cacoeciae is the only parasitoid species that has been commercialized in Tunisia as a biocontrol agent of Tuta absoluta. Releases of this egg parasitoid significantly decreased densities of this pest in tomatoes in Tunisia. More details can be found in this article : https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328728136_Effectiveness_of_different_release_rates_of_Trichogramma_cacoeciae_Hymenoptera_Trichogrammatidae_against_Tuta_absoluta_Lepidoptera_Gelechiidae_in_protected_and_open_field_tomato_crops_in_Tunisia

FULL TEXT: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/zWRQFIFEAeY3mpCJMizi/full

Currently, T. cacoeciae can be considered as the most promising and efficient biocontrol agent of T. absoluta in the Cap-Bon region, the largest tomato-producing area in Tunisia.

İn our works we found that Closterocerus clarus (Szelenyi) and Bracon didemie Beyarslan were good parasitoids for controling Tuta in Antakya_Turkey

All suggestions must be right in certain locality. Nontheless the best situation to find an effective natural enemy in the locality under consideration.

Dear Drs. Doganlar and Elnager,

Thanks for your valuable contributions. Please @ Dr. Doganlar, have you any published research article(s) or conference papers evaluating the use of both parasitoids you mentioned for controlling Tuta in Antakya ? Any further information would be very useful for the scientific community.

I am sending you our papers for controling Tuta.

Thank you very much dear Prof. Doganlar for providing these interesting articles.

Best,

Ramzi