The tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), native to Peru, South America, is a devastating quarantine pest worldwide. If no control measures are taken, the pest can cause up to 80%-100% yield losses in tomato crops. The pest mainly spread by long-distance trade in agricultural products. As of 2017, the occurrence of T. absoluta has been reported from 85 countries and regions around the world (and its presence suspected in 22 countries and regions). Currently there are no records of its occurrence in China. However, if invaded, it would pose a grave threat to tomato (as well as potato) production. This paper summarizes the information on the host plant range, damage, biological and ecological characteristics, geographical distribution, spreading pathways, and available management measures of this pest.