Tuta absoluta

Tuta absoluta

Alternative names
Tomato Leaf-miner
South American Tomato Moth
Description

This small moth is generally brown with scattered black and orange patches. Native to South America where it is a pest of tomato cultivation. In the UK it is currently rare but is expanding.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Tomato cultivation, particularly in greenhouses.

When to see it

All year in heated greenhouses.

UK Status

Uncommon but expanding

VC55 Status

Rare but likely to expand.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records