Predicting Seasonal Apple Injury by Tufted Apple Bud Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) with Early-Season Sex Pheromone Trap Catches and Brood I Fruit Injury

Abstract

Cumulative catches of brood I tufted apple bud moth, Platynota idaeusalis (Walker), males in sex pheromone traps early in the season (before 28 May) provided a significant predictor of total-season fruit injury for the apple cultivars ‘Yorking’ and ‘Delicious’ but not for ‘Golden Delicious’ during 1986 and 1987. Early-season pheromone trap catches were also significant predictors of brood I injury for ‘Yorking’ in 1986 and ‘Delicious’ in 1987. Incorporating a measure of tree size with these cumulative trap catches improved the prediction of total fruit injury for the cultivars ‘Delicious’ and ‘Yorking’ in 1987. Significant regressions of total fruit injury with first-brood injury also were found for each cultivar except ‘Golden Delicious’ in 1987. The potential use of these early-season measures of population densities to more effectively manage tufted apple bud moth on apple is discussed.