author(s)
Ajaya Shree Ranta Bajracharya, Ram Prasad Mainali, Binu Bhat, Sanjaya Bista, Pathour R Shashank and Naresh Manohar Meshram

abstract
South American tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is key and invasive pest of Tomato. This pest was recorded for the first time in Nepal from a commercial tomato farm of Kathmandu during May 2016. Tuta absoluta was identified studying external morphology and male genitalia in Entomology Division, NARC, Nepal and Division of Entomology, IARI, New Delhi India. Preliminary survey conducted showed this South American tomato leaf miner has spread within Kathmandu valley and surrounding areas.