South Africa: Tomato pest detected

A pest of tomato crops has been reported to the The Western Cape Department of Agriculture who are now investigating the reports. The pest is supposedly the tomato leaf miner (Tuta Absoluta), which is a species of moth notorious for attacking the juicy crops. Alan Winde, Minster of Economic Opportunites has confirmed reports that the moth had been detected in The Western Cape.

Presently the spread and the damage caused is unknown but, as of now, they haven't been able to stop it.

"The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries have been monitoring Tuta Absoluta for the past two years. The first positive tests were in South Africa in August this year, when it was detected in Mpumalanga. Since then it has spread to other parts of the country."

"This pest is aggressive and attacks the entire plant, from the leaves to the fruit. DAFF has advised growers to check plants for any signs of detection, such as eggs, especially if they receive seedlings from Limpopo or Mpumalanga." The Department of Agriculture said.

source: allafrica.com