1 - Phytosanitary Resources

Survey Procedures
In addition, because Tuta absoluta can develop in solanaceous weed hosts that
might be present in growing areas, trapping might continue even when
commercial hosts are unavailable, after harvest and before the next planting.
Surveys in other risky areas should be conducted year-round. Refer to
Table 4-4 on page 4-19 for a list of areas at high risk for Tuta absoluta.
Processing Samples
This section contains instructions for preparing and shipping insect and plant
specimens.
Preparing Samples
Preserve Tuta absoluta in 70 percent isopropyl alcohol and send for
identification and preservation.
Shipping Samples
Call the laboratory prior to shipping the samples via overnight delivery service.
Instructions and contact information are located in How to Submit Insect
Specimens on page F-1 and Taxonomic Support for Surveys on page G-1.
Collecting and Handling Samples and Specimens
Adults—Moths can be captured with a sweep net when disturbing plants to
incite adult flight. Captured adults should be transferred to a killing jar with
ethyl acetate (killing agent). Adults will be quickly stunned but will be killed
slowly. The body will remain limp (unless they are left in the killing jar
overnight) in case spreading or removal of genitalia is needed (USDA, 1986).
Alternatively, adults can be collected and placed in 95 percent alcohol.
Collecting adults and storing them in dry ice will keep them in good shape in
case further taxonomic studies are planned.
Larvae and Pupae—For museum quality specimens, larvae and pupae
extracted from plant material should be placed in a vial with ethanol at 70 to 80
percent and 5 percent glacial acetic acid. This combination of chemicals
(referred to as acetic alcohol) aids in ethanol penetration and keeps specimen
tissues relaxed (USDA, 1986). For surveys, glacial acetic acid is not necessary
and 70 to 80 percent ethanol alone is all that is needed.
Immature Stages in Plant Material—Place suspect material in a plastic bag
and store in a cooler, but not frozen. A photograph should be taken in the field
to document the plant materials original state.
4-20 Tomato Leafminer 6/2011
Emergency and Domestic Programs