He uses a trap to control Tuta absoluta, a tomato pest [GARDY CHACHA/STANDARD]In the harvest seasons before January 2017, farmer Douglas Gitonga, from Central Imenti in Meru County, rued losses from his mixed tomato farm. “The larvae of Tuta absoluta mine into leaves of target plants. “It is difficult to control Tuta absoluta by spraying with pesticides,” Ms Mureithi says, adding: “The pest is known to burrow into the plant. When the paper trap is full (with hundreds of stuck moths) it is replaced by another trap. Trapping, Mureithi adds, is a very promising control method for the male adults of Tuta absoluta.

Source: Standard Digital April 15, 2017 11:37 UTC