In May 2018, the tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) was detected in Haiti. This was the first report of this important quarantine pest in the Caribbean and represents a serious threat for countries free of this pest in the Caribbean, North and Central America. Urgent actions to control, contain and prevent further spread of the pest were recommended during the 12th meeting of the Plant Health Directors Forum (CPHD), held in July 2019 in Bahamas.
During week of February 3-7, 2020, The Dominican Republic Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (USDA APHIS), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Organizacion Regional Internacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (OIRSA) will be conducting a workshop on phytosanitary surveillance and management of tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) in the Dominican Republic. The workshop will not only target Haitian Plant Health Officials with the participation of DR Plant Health Officials in charge of key areas of T. absoluta surveillance but will also include the participation of two (2) key member states of the CPHD.
The objective to the workshop is to provide basic knowledge on Tuta absoluta to field and laboratory personnel on basic tools available to surveillance and control actions according to specific needs.
DAY 1 (FEBRUARY 3)
History, background information, biology and diagnostic methods.
Identification of Tuta absoluta and other Gelechiidae
DAY 2 (FEBRUARY 4)
Surveillance and management elements
Practical session at laboratory
DAY 3 (FEBRUARY 5)
Field Work
Trapping and exploration methods.
Management and preparation of Tuta absoluta specimens.
Day 4 (FEBRUARY 6)
Field/Lab Work.
Continuation of field practice
Specimen preparation and identification
DAY 5 (FEBRUARY 7)
Preparation of documents for surveillance and control.
Preparation of documents for diagnostic.
Here are some photos from the first day of the Tuta Absoluta workshop: