Norfolk status
Uncommon.

Adventive pest species from South America, inadvertently introduced with tomatoes. First found in the UK when a larva was discovered in a tomato purchased at a supermarket in Cheltenham in 2009.

The larva feeds voraciously upon tomato plants, producing large galleries in leaves, burrowing in stalks, and consuming apical buds and green and ripe fruits. It is capable of causing a yield loss of 100%.

Very similar to Scrobipalpa atriplicella but is generally smaller. The classic form has distinct mottled appearance and striped palps, antenna and legs. However, darker forms occur, including an almost black form, and will require gen. det.

First Norfolk record in April 2017 when a male was taken indoors at North Creake. (A. Culshaw, 18/04/17. Gen. Det. R. Terry)

Verification Grade Comment: Photo or Gen. Det. required.

	Determination by Genitalia Examination (gen. det.) Required

Recorded in 7 (9%) of 74 10k Squares. First Recorded in 2017. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

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