Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #234898
Title: Integrated Pest Management for the Potato Tuber Moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) - a Potato Pest of Global Importance

Author
item KROSCHEL, JURGEN - CENTRO INTL DE LA PAPA
item Lacey, Lawrence

Submitted to: Complete Book
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/12/2008
Publication Date: 1/29/2009
Citation: Kroschel, J., Lacey, L.A. 2009. Integrated Pest Management for the Potato Tuber Moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) - a Potato Pest of Global Importance. (J.Kroschel and L.A.Lacey, eds). Tropical Agriculture 20, Advances in Crop Research 10. Margraf Publishers, Weikersheim, Germany. 147 pp.

Interpretive Summary: One of the most injurious worldwide pests of potato is the potato tuber moth (PTM). Larvae feed on every part of the plant (leaves, stems, and tubers) and have caused severe economic losses. Since 2002 PTM became a significant pest of potato in the Pacific Northwest potato production areas of the United States. Reliance on chemical insecticides for insect control has resulted in a variety of safety and environmental problems. Scientists at the USDA, Agricultural Research Service Laboratory in Wapato, WA, the International Potato Center (CIP) in Lima Peru and several foreign and US scientists made presentations on the subject of integrated control of this pest at the 6th World Potato Congress in 2006 in Boise, Idaho. Their presentations have been compiled into a book edited by the USDA scientist and his CIP colleague. In the book the authors have reviewed the literature on the use and potential of an integrated approach where use of chemical pesticides is eliminated or reduced. This information will provide researchers and potato producers with a comprehensive resource for planning control strategies that employ insect-specific pathogens, insect natural enemies and other environmentally friendly methods for control of PTM. Such strategies will result in better safety for applicators and the food supply and will minimize environmental contamination.

Technical Abstract: The potato tuber moth, which originated in tropical mountainous regions of South America, is the most economically important pest of potato in developing tropical and subtropical countries. Today, it is distributed worldwide and is established in more than 90 countries including countries in temperate regions. In warm and dry areas, potato tuber moth infestations and losses are especially severe and it is predicted that the moth will further expand its current distribution and pest severity under climate change. Effective tools for forecasting its future spread and for managing the pest in potato fields and stores with less negative impacts of pesticides on humans and the environment are urgently needed. The present publication is the result of a symposium on “Integrated Pest Management for the Potato Tuber Moth - A Potato Pest of Global Proportions”, which was held as part of the 6th World Potato Congress. The principal objective of the symposium was to bring together scientists from all over the world working on potato tuber moth and to share and summarize the “state-of-science” on the potato tuber moth problem and its management as part of an integrated pest management program.