Potato tuber moth
| Potato tuber moth | |
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| Dorsal view | |
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| Ventral view | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Gelechiidae |
| Subfamily: | Gelechiinae |
| Tribe: | Gnorimoschemini |
| Genus: | Phthorimaea |
| Species: | P. operculella |
| Binomial name | |
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Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller, 1873) |
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Phthorimaea operculella, also known as the Potato Tuber moth or Tobacco Splitworm, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is an oligophagous insect that feeds on the plant family Solanaceae and is especially known for being a major pest of potato crops. Currently farmers utilize insecticides, parasites, and sprinkler irrigation in order to prevent P. operculella from infesting their croplands.
The Potato Tuber moth also has a rare oviposition process where the ovipositor contains sensors that pick up on chemical signals given off by the host plant, and so the adult female moth only needs to be within the vicinity of a host plant to lay her eggs.
The Potato Tuber Moth has a body length of about 10mm and a wingspan of about 12mm. Adult moths have a narrow, light brown body with grayish-brown wings containing a variety of small dark spots. The moth contains two sets of wings, both having frayed edges. Females are distinguished from males by having a black “X” pattern on their forewings when their wings are closed.
P. operculella can be found worldwide but prefer subtropical, tropical, and mediterranean climates. In the United States, P.operculella have been spotted in at least 25 states, especially along the Atlantic and Pacific coast. The Potato Tuber Moth is also commonly found in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, and Oceania. In total, the moth has been reported in more than 90 countries.
The Potato Tuber moth typically live in areas near potatoes or within the vicinity of their host plant family, Solanaceae. Temperature is an important factor in the survival rate and development of P. operculella, and so they are typically found in warmer climates, preferring subtropical and tropical habitats.
Potato Tuber Moth larvae are known for feeding on the tubers, roots, and foliage of potato plants (Solanum tuberosum). However, larvae are only able to locate potato tubers if they are exposed or within 1 cm of the soil surface. There is no evidence that larvae would mine down and locate tubers using the root system. On foliage, the larvae mainly feed on the mesophyll leaving brown or white spots in the leaves known as blotch mines. The Potato Tuber Moth has been found to feed on other members of the Solanaceae family such as tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum), eggplants (Solanum melongena), tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum), and bell peppers (Capsicum annuum).
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Wikipedia