who's EATING YOUR tomatoes and potatoes?

In April 2006, crop consultant Chris Charrington was monitoring field tomatoes near Gisborne with a colleague, when they noticed something unusual about the crop. On closer inspection, Chris found insects he’d not seen before living under the leaves and attacking the plants.

There are many species of psyllid (pronounced sillid) in New Zealand, all in the same family as aphids, cicadas, shield bugs and leafhoppers. However, this one was new and identified as the tomatopotato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli), or TPP.

Stowaway from the Americas

These psyllids originated in Central and North America where they bred on tomatoes and potatoes. Biosecurity staff concluded that TPP nymphs may have been accidentally introduced into New Zealand on chilli peppers smuggled in from the west coast of the USA.

There are higher concentrations of TPP in Auckland and in the East Coast region. The psyllid has slowly moved down the country and can now be found in Southland.

It has become a severe pest in many outdoor and greenhouse crops. It prefers plants in the solanaceae family – see sidebar. It’s also found on solanaceous weed