Potato tuber moth: Increasingly important potato pest in Serbia

By the end of the last and the beginning of this century, the changed climate conditions, with long, hot periods, frequently accompanied by drought or minimal rainfall, have resulted in the appearance of new, previously little known pests. One of them is a potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella Zell. (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae), widespread in tropical and subtropical potato growing regions, whose caterpillars damage both plants in the fi eld and stored potato tubers. Damage caused by this species was recorded in our country in previous years and even decades but, since they were random and rare, growers did not pay much attention to them. However, from 2009 to 2013, a very high population of potato tuber moth was recorded in the region of Leskovac (southeastern Serbia), causing considerable economic damage (of up to 100%). This resulted in lower potato quality and the reduction of total area under ware potatoes in this region and, ultimately, the decision of producers to grow other crops. Nearly catastrophic damage was observed on potato in 2015 in the area of the West Morava River (near Cacak), while damage was also recorded in southern Banat, Backa and Srem. Having in mind its economic importance, as well as its likely further expansion in Serbia, special attention must be paid to this pest in the future. The authors describe potato tuber moth, its distribution, morphological characteristics, biology and symptoms of attack, including its occurrence in Serbia and surrounding countries, and the possible methods of control. .