Integrated Management of Potato Tuber Moth (Phthorimaea operculella) (Zeller) in Field and Storage

Abstract

Potato tuber moth is  the most important constraints of potato production in Ethiopia and  it causes up to 42% yield loss in storage. Chemical management of P. operculella is challenging because of the protected tunneling behavior of larvae in foliage and tubers. Because of this, the pest has developed resistance to many traditional organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid insecticides. So that, in order to reduce the impact of this key insect pest we have to develop an integrated pest management approach: including appropriate cultural practices, using pheromone traps, using biological control, host plant resistant, using botanicals and appropriate rate and time of chemical applications. Integrating of many management options helps in reducing the risk of pesticide resistance development, reduce the impacts of the insecticide to environment, non-targeted organisms, beneficial insects such as natural enemies and human hazards.  It is very important to store our products at appropriate storage conditions in order to reduce the damage from insect pests as well as other organisms. Field as well as storage sanitation is the best and most effective way of reducing the damage of potato tuber moth and can improve the quality of our products. The development of an appropriate integrations of management options is very important rather than dealing with conventional use of insecticides. 

Keywords: Biological control,  Botanicals, Insect pest, Pheromone traps, Tunneling behavior, Yield loss