According to the board’s emergency declaration, county farmers produced approximately $147 million worth of tomatoes in 2023. The virus’ only vector is a tiny insect called the beet leafhopper.

The Florida Entomologist, Vol. 89, No. 2 (Jun., 2006), pp. 204-207 (4 pages) Frankliniella occidentalis is the key vector responsible for the emergence of Tomato spotted wilt virus as a global threat ...