Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Invasive Species and Pollinator Health » Research » Research Project #439176
Research Project: Proactive Classical Biological Control of Tuta absoluta in California

Location: Invasive Species and Pollinator Health

Project Number: 2030-22000-033-010-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Nov 1, 2020
End Date: Oct 31, 2025

Objective:
The primary objective of this project is to provide specimens of a parasitoid of Tuta absoluta (Dolichogenidae gelechiidivoris) for host specificity testing.

Approach:
The parasitoid Dolichogenidae gelechiidivoris will be reared on Tuta absoluta, which will be maintained on tomato plants grown in the greenhouse. International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) will periodically ship live D. gelechiidiviros parasitoids in the pupal stage to the USDA-ARS quarantine facility in Albany, California. Approximately 25-30 shipments per year will be made from May to November from 2021-2023. All imported material will be handled securely according to permit standards.