Abstract:
The potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella, is a pest of many solanaceous crops, including potatoes. Commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world, potato tuberworm (PTW) is one of the most important constraints to potato production worldwide. Larvae of this species mine leaves, stems, and petioles and excavate tunnels through potato tubers. Adequate control of PTW is critical because
larval infestation of tubers renders potatoes unmarketable. There is zero tolerance for the presence of tuberworm larvae in raw processing product because they are classified as foreign material. Additional losses are likely from infested tubers that rot in storage or from spread that may occur early in the storage season.
