Specialists of the Office of the Rosselkhoznadzor for the Bryansk, Smolensk and Kaluga regions from the beginning of July began control phytosanitary examinations of potato plantings for the presence of quarantine pests using pheromone traps, reports press service of the organization.
At the moment, 20 pheromone traps have already been installed on a total area of about 269 ha.
After monitoring, the pheromone traps will be sent to the accredited laboratory "FGBU TsNMVL" for entomological studies.
In the event that quarantine objects are found, the Rosselkhoznadzor Administration will take measures aimed at localizing and eliminating the identified quarantine pests.
For information
Potato moth is a specialized pest. Its caterpillars damage many cultivated and wild plants of the nightshade family. However, they can cause especially serious damage to potatoes. Potato moth mainly damages potatoes, especially tubers in storage, as well as tobacco, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and wild nightshades.
The butterfly itself does not feed and does not live long, the main damage to the culture is caused by its larvae. The harmfulness of the larva is to reduce the yield of tubers, the deterioration of its seed and commercial qualities. The larvae first feed on potato leaves, as the bush dries up, they move to the tuber. Since the pest larva is inside the potatoes, it is not easy to notice the damage to the tubers in a timely manner. Having penetrated into the potato tuber, the larvae form numerous passages, the damaged tubers become mummified and dry out.
Once in storage, potato moths can destroy the entire crop within a few weeks.