Potato Tuberworm Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Harsimran K. Gill, Gurminder Chahil, Gaurav Goyal, Arshdeep K. Gill, and Jennifer L. Gillett-Kaufman

Release Date: 11/7/2024

DOI: 10.32473/edis-in1031-2014

Agriculture

Abstract

This document provides an overview of the potato tuberworm (Phthorimaea operculella), a pest affecting crops in the Solanaceae family, including potatoes, tomatoes, and tobacco. It discusses the pest’s distribution, life cycle, and the damage it causes to crops. The document also covers monitoring and management strategies, including cultural, biological, and chemical controls, as well as the importance of integrated pest management (IPM) programs. The goal is to provide comprehensive information to help manage and mitigate the impact of this pest on agricultural production.

About this Publication

This document is EENY587, one of a series of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date February 2014. Revised March 2020 and June 2024. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication. This document is also available on the Featured Creatures website at http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/.

About the Authors

Harsimran K. Gill, postdoctoral research associate, Department of Entomology and Nematology; Gurminder Chahil, Dalhousie University, NS, Canada; Gaurav Goyal, postdoctoral research associate, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, India; Arshdeep Gill, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, India; and Jennifer L. Gillett-Kaufman, associate Extension scientist, Department of Entomology and Nematology; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

How to Cite

Gill, H. K., Chahil, G., Goyal, G., Gill, A., & Gillett-Kaufman, J. L. (2014). Potato Tuberworm Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). EDIS, 2014(2). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-in1031-2014

Authors

Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman

instructional associate professor, Ph.D., Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, former UF/IFAS Extension scientist, integrated pest management, olives, Department of Entomology and Nematology

Harsimran Gill

former post-doc research associate, UF/IFAS Department of Entomology and Nematology

Gaurav Goyal

former post-doc research associate, Department of Entomology and Nematology

Contacts

Elena Rhodes

Contact

staff

University of Florida

biological scientist III, Department of Entomology and Nematology

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