The purpose of this work is to report the presence of the new pest, Lasioptera tomaticola (Yukawa et Harris) in tomato and cucumber crops from the southwest and western of Romania. In the last three years (2020-2022) the tomato and cucumber crops in Dolj and Timiș counties were invaded by the new pest, known as Lasioptera tomaticola (Mediterranean tomato weevil), classified in Class Insecta, Order Diptera, Family Cecidomyiidae, Subfamily Cecidomyiinae, Supertribe: Lasiopteridae, Tribe: Lasiopterini, Genus: Lasioptera. The origin of the species is uncertain, however studies carried out to date attribute it to the Palearctic ecozone as its place of origin. So far, the species has been reported on two continents: Asia and Europe (Japan, Turkey, Greece and Romania). The species was reported for the first time in 2001, in Greece. In Romania, the first signs of the attack, produced by the Mediterranean tomato fly, were observed in 2011 by Mirela Cean. Lasioptera tomaticola (Mediterranean tomato weevil) attacks plants belonging to the family Solanaceae (such as Solanum lycopersicum) and Cucurbitaceae (Cucumis sativus). Observations carried out on the territory of Romania, in the three years (2020-2022), highlighted the presence of the species on tomato and cucumber plants in protected areas. Damage caused by Lasioptera tomaticola (Mediterranean tomato weevil) is manifested by quality deterioration and reduced production. The attack produced by Lasioptera tomaticola is manifested by the appearance of necrosis on the stem, shoots, petiole, peduncle (at the point of insertion of the fruit) and on the fruit (under the receptacle). Attacked plants stagnate in growth, wilt and dry out. The stems breaks. We believe that it is necessary to study this species in Romania, to establish its distribution, biology, ecology, host plants, the damage produced as well as to investigate control methods.

Lasioptera tomaticola, pest, tomato, cucumber

agronomy

Presentation: poster