Report on the occurrence of South American Tomato moth, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) in Punjab, India as evident from trap catches and molecular diagnosis

South American Tomato moth, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), was reported as a new invasive pest on tomato from Ludhiana and Patiala districts of Punjab, India during 2016–17. The molecular identification of the pest was based on the core principle of generating DNA barcode using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (mt COI) gene. Though the incidence observed was very low on tomato from the surveyed areas during the observational period, considering the severity of the pest in other states, and its ability to spread rapidly into newer tomato growing areas, there is a need for constant vigil on the pest, for preventing its further spread within and the adjoining the states of Punjab.