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%.
First Norfolk record in April 2017 when a male was taken indoors at North Creake. (A. Culshaw, 18/04/17. Gen. Det. R. Terry)
Determination by Genitalia Examination (gen. det.) Required
Recorded in 2 (3%) of 69 10k Squares. First Recorded in 2017. Last Recorded in 2018. Additional Stats
Hawk moths
