Potato  /  Leafminer fly

The leafminer fly, Liriomyza huidobrensis, is an insect that becomes a serious pest in areas where insecticides are used intensively and where particularly susceptible cultivars are planted. These conditions occur in coastal Peru and Chile and in certain areas of Brazil, Central America, and other countries. The leafminer fly, native to South America, has recently appeared in Kenya, Egypt, Indonesia, Israel, and Mauritius, where it has caused severe damage to diverse potato cultivars.

The management strategy for this pest is based on the use of resistant or tolerant cultivars and habitat management to favor the increase of natural enemies. The use of sticky yellow traps to capture adult flies reduces the rate of increase of the pest. The use of selective insecticides (insect growth regulators) when necessary is a final step.