Mortality responses of three leafroller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) species on kiwifruit to a high‐temperature controlled atmosphere treatment

Abstract

Mortality responses of 3‐day‐old eggs and 1st, 3rd, and 5th instars of three leafroller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) pests, infesting kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) after exposure to a high‐temperature controlled atmosphere (2% O2 with 5% CO2 at 40°C) were determined. All four life stages of Cnephasia jactatana (Walker) had similar mortality responses to controlled atmosphere (CA) treatment at the 99% mortality level. Fifth instars of Ctenopseustis obliquana (Walker) were more tolerant than the other three life stages tested. Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) showed a trend of increasing exposure time to achieve 99% mortality as development progressed. E. postvittana was more tolerant of CA treatment than C. obliquana and C. jactatana. An exposure time of 6 h resulted in control (> 99% mortality) of C. jactatana and C. obliquana however, did not control all life stages of E. postvittana. There is potential to combine a short high‐temperature CA treatment with a longer period of low‐temperature CA storage to control all three species.