The tomato night is wreaking havoc in Switzerland

The tomato night is wreaking havoc in Switzerland.Image: Getty images

The tomato night can cause big damage to Swiss agriculture. Similarly, The Agroscope research center more closely monitors this butterfly.

Bruno Knellwolf / Ch Media

Swiss agriculture suffers from a devastating butterfly with the name of the tomato (Helicoverpa Armigera). In addition, The name can make one think of a bird. Therefore, but it is indeed a small light brown or beige nocturnal butterfly, which belongs to the family of nights. Consequently, His caterpillars feed on the flesh tomato night wreaking havoc switzerland of tomatoes, but also other plants, such as cotton or corn. Similarly,

And this caterpillar is feared worldwide. From the third larval stage approximately, they preferably attack the pods and fruits of plants. Moreover, “Even on leafy vegetables, we observe damage by snacking, perforation and contamination by excrement of caterpillars. Moreover, This makes the harvest inventable or unusable, ”explains Cornelia Sauer, researcher at the Agroscope Institute.

The peculiarity of this noctual lies in the great diversity of its host plants. In addition, The butterfly is not difficult and is also very mobile. In addition, It can travel more than 1000 kilometers per year. Similarly, And it is also very fruitful: the female can lay 1000 to 3000 eggs. Moreover, Cornelia Sauer precise:

A new wave is possible this summer

In 2023. For example, the cotton capsule night caused significant damage in Switzerland. Consequently, Beans, peas, chickpeas, tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn, beet ribs and salads were affected. Furthermore, “In some cases, yield losses have been considerable, even total”indicates the researcher of Agroscope. This is why the Institute has strengthened national surveillance of this devastating within the framework of the National Network. of Early Detection.

The butterfly continues to fly over our fields this year. All surveillance stations in Switzerland record the flights of nightclubs in the tomato. We observe a little less in the center of the country than in the regions close to the borders. Because the insect arrives in Switzerland from the West, the South and the East.

“It is possible that during tomato night wreaking havoc switzerland the second half of the summer. due to higher temperatures, There is a new significant wave of arrival of nightsmanship ”warns Cornelia Sauer. This butterfly from tropical regions likes heat.

The impact of climate change

“With global warming. the tomato night is progressing in North Africa to northern Africa,” said the researcher. This growing expansion has also been observed in Switzerland over the years. In the 1980s. she was first regularly present in Ticino; In the 1990s, it was detected in French -speaking Switzerland, then during the 2003 scorching summer in the Reuss valley, in the canton of Uri.

Today it is observed regularly throughout Switzerland. Cornelia Sauer precise:

This tropical migrant also has natural enemies. There are various species of Darwin wasps which can parasitize eggs or larvae of the tomato. In Germany, there are already studies on different species of these wasps.

Thanks to enhanced early detection, control measures can be implemented. To actively fight the nightit must first be identified, thanks to a network of pheromone traps. Pheromones are chemical signals that insects use to communicate with each other. They are used here to attract butterflies into the traps.

The fight can then start, for example using bacterial preparations. “In the event of infestation, field hygiene is important. By crushing and incorporating plant residues, the insects, eggs or larvae can be destroyed there, ”adds Cornelia Sauer. In a garden, tomato night wreaking havoc switzerland we can protect vegetable crops by covering them with anti-insect nets to prevent the arrival of butterflies.

Translated from German by Anne Castella

It’s done: Trump applied his customs duties to Switzerland. Does Confederation have the means to “retaliate” economically if tomato night wreaking havoc switzerland it wishes? A former trade negotiator responds.

The 39% customs duties decided by Donald Trump for Switzerland are acted. The Federal Council confirmed this Thursday at a press conference on Thursday that he did not envisage “countermeasures”. that is to say to reply economically to the American president. At least for the moment.