Newswise — Two new countries have succumbed to the tomato leafminer invasion. Scientists in Bangladesh and Nepal – after training from a Virginia Tech-led program – have identified the same tiny moth responsible for the wholesale destruction of this year's Nigerian tomato crop.

Reported nationally and internationally as a “tomato emergency,” Tuta absoluta is the pest responsible for destroying the 2016 Nigerian tomato crop.

The director of the Integrated Pest Management Innovation lab, Virginia Tech professor Muni Muniappan says his team is working hard to minimize the spread of this devastating tomato leafmine.

“With the proactive actions taken by the IPM Innovation Lab, we hope to significantly reduce the economic loss caused by this pest in Nepal and Bangladesh, as well as in the rest of Asia and the United States,” Muniappan said.

Muniappan and scientists at Virginia Tech have spent the past several years raising awareness of the pest through workshops, especially in countries that might benefit most from anticipating the spread. This table shows where the pest has spread since 2006.

Experts at the United States Department of Agriculture feel the domestic tomato industry could be severely impacted, and indicated they are watching its’ spread and taking it very seriously.

“Some scientists — myself included — believe that the leafminer that destroyed Nigeria’s crop will eventually show up in the United States,” said Muniappan. “And when it comes to invasive pests like this tomato leafminer, awareness and preparedness are key.

The Integrated Pest Management Innovation Lab is a project of the Office of International Research, Education, and Development, part of Outreach and International Affairs at Virginia Tech.

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