Cydia Molesta Busck Research Articles

Control of Cydia molesta (Busck) by mating disruption using Isomate-M pheromone dispensers in Northern Greece

Trials were carried out in 1986 and 1987 with the mating disruption method for the control of oriental fruit moth (Cydia molesta Busck) in peaches of Northern Greece. One or two applications during April-September of the synthetic pheromone lsomate-M, at a rate of 1,000 units per ha, resulted in a 100% prevention of captures in pheromone traps in all trials, with fruit damage ranging from 0.1-2.0%. Damage in the conventionally sprayed treatments was 0.3-2.4% while infestation in the unsprayed plots reached 6-17%. The encouraging results, especially when taking into account the relatively small size of the orchards, opens opportunities for the integrated control of this peach insect pest under the condi­tions of Northern Greece.

Sustainable Control of Oriental Fruit Moth, Cydia molesta Busck, Using Isomate OFM Rosso Dispensers in Peach Orchards in Bulgaria

The trials were carried out in the years 2011-2013 in an isolated peach experimental orchard of one ha in the Fruit Growing Institute, Plovdiv – Central South Bulgaria. Mating disruption (MD) was tested as an alternative method controlling oriental fruit moth (OFM), Cydia molesta Busck from post-bloom till harvest. Isomate® OFM rosso (Shin Etsu - Japan) pheromone dispensers were installed once during the season, before the start of OFM flights. In 2013 Cidetrak® PTB dispensers were used against Anarsia lineatella Zell. For monitoring of the pests one type of pheromone traps was used in this experiment - PHEROCON® VI Delta traps (Trece, USA) with a sticky changeable bottoms. The pheromone baits are a products of Trece, Inc. USA. In the reference, conventionally treated orchard, 5-9 insecticide treatments were applied to control oriental fruit moth, peach twig borer (PTB), aphids and other pests. In spite of that, the fruit damage ranges from 3.6 to 5.2 % in the successive years. Percentage of damage in the experimental orchard treated with Isomate® OFM rosso was 0.1 and 0.3 %, i.e. rather below the economical threshold; no outbreak of the OFM appearance was noted. So, the MD method, with use of the Isomate® OFM rosso dispensers, proved to be an effective means of control even in a small size orchard lots. The results obtained may open the possibilities of practical use of the method of mating disruption in Bulgaria. This method should favour preservation of the natural environment and enable production of healthy fruits, not polluted by chemicals.

APRICOT PEST CONTROL USING FRIENDLY PESTICIDES

The high density system in apricot trees culture has propagated a lot of damaging pests such as: Anarsia lineatella Zell, Cydia molesta Busck and Myzus persicae Sulz. The utilization of insecticides as the main method of control of these insects has already induced pest resistance and exerts a negative impact on the environment, soil texture and structure, accumulation of toxic residues in soil and fruits, etc. To prevent all these negative aspects, studies on the biological efficacy of the products based on plant extracts (Artemisia apsinthium, Chelidonium majus, Allium sativum) were carried out. The experiment included the 'Tudor' apricot cultivars. To find out the optimum timing for application, pheromone traps like 'Atralin' and 'Atramol' were employed and the sprays were done only when the damage economic threshold (D.E.T.) was exceeded, namely 80-100 butterflies per trap, per week. The results recorded with those products applied to control Anarsia lineatella Zell., Cydia molesta Busck and Myzus persicae Sulz., have enabled to estimate them as a certain alternative to the pest chemical control. The product values will be enhanced having in view they are harmless to human beings, to the environment and the useful entomofauna, and not to maintain their toxic residues in fruit.

How two different host species influence the performance of a gregarious parasitoid: host size is not equal to host quality

1. Hyssopus pallidus Askew (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) is a gregarious ectoparasitoid of the two tortricid moths species Cydia molesta Busck and C. pomonella L. (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae). It paralyses and parasitizes different larval instars of both species inside the apple fruit, which leads to the death of the caterpillar. 2. We assessed the influence of host species characteristics and host food on the performance of the parasitoid female in terms of clutch size decisions and fitness of the F(1) generation. 3. A comparison of clutch size revealed that female parasitoids deposited similar numbers of eggs on the comparatively smaller C. molesta hosts as on the larger C. pomonella hosts. The number of parasitoid offspring produced per weight unit of host larva was significantly higher in C. molesta than in C. pomonella, which is contrary to the general prediction that smaller hosts yield less parasitoid offspring. However, the sex ratio was not influenced by host species that differed considerably in size. 4. Despite the fact that less host resources were available per parasitoid larva feeding on C. molesta caterpillars, the mean weight of emerging female wasps was higher in the parasitoids reared on C. molesta. Furthermore, longevity of these female wasps was neither influenced by host species nor by the food their host had consumed. In addition we did not find a positive relationship between adult female weight and longevity. 5. Parasitoid females proved to be able to assess accurately the nutritional quality of an encountered host and adjust clutch size accordingly. These findings indicate that host size is not equal to host quality. Thus host size is not the only parameter to explain the nutritional quality of a given host and to predict fitness gain in the subsequent generation.

Preimaginal Environment Influences Adult Flight inCydia molesta(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Dispersal of adult tortricid moths between habitats may have important consequences for pest management in orchards, but little is known about how flight parameters are affected by environmental conditions during preimaginal development. The influence of changing temperature and photoperiod (both singly and in combination) as well as of larval crowding and food deprivation were investigated in Cydia molesta Busck (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a species that has been found to disperse after peach harvest and colonize pome fruit orchards. Comparative assessments of flight parameters were made on a computer-linked flight mill and life history traits were evaluated. A significant increase in flight performance was correlated with preimaginal exposure to decreasing photoperiod. In addition, pupal development was delayed and larger individuals emerged, but preimaginal survivorship was reduced. Decreasing and increasing temperature regimens and increasing photoperiod did not influence adult flight. Larval crowding was associated with increased flight, but the differences were not statistically significant. Food deprivation was associated with accelerated preimaginal development, lower pupal weight, less fecund adults, and reduced flight. We propose that the main factor eliciting dispersal in this tortricid is decreasing photoperiod.

Sexual differences in the flight performance of the oriental fruit moth, Cydia molesta

Abstract Cydia molesta Busck (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a major pest of stone fruits and an increasingly important late season pest of apple, is predominately monitored by pheromone trapping of male moths. We investigated flight performance in relation to sex, age, and mating status using computer‐linked flight mills, and also examined the relationship between female flight and reproduction. The crepuscular flight pattern of the experimental moths in relation to photointensity was very similar to that reported from field studies. Female moths significantly outperformed males in all measured flight parameters including total distance flown, distance of longest single flight, and velocity. The proportion of long‐flying females (categorised as those completing an unbroken flight of greater than 1 km) was three to six times greater than that of males. Female flight performance was not related to mating status, but mated males displayed significantly greater flight than unmated males. The maximal flight period of mated females commenced on the third day after eclosion, following 30% egg deposition. Male flight was not significantly related to age. The data suggest that a limited proportion of the population, in particular females, may have the capacity to make inter‐orchard flights. The limitations of monitoring C. molesta populations in apple orchards solely by pheromone trapping of males are discussed.

INTEGRATED PEST CONTROL IN VICTORIAN PEACH ORCHARDS: THE ROLE OF STETHORUS SPP. (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE)

AbstractThe importance of Stethorus spp. in controlling Tetranychus urticae Koch, was studied over three seasons in peach orchards in the Goulburn Valley, Victoria. In the early maturing cultivar (Riley), Stethorus spp. reduced the need for acaricide applications when less insecticide was used for the control of Cydia molesta Busck. Three species of Stethorus occurred, S. vagans Blackburn being the most abundant. No insecticide was required for the control of C. molesta between mid‐October and early January provided adequate spraying was carried out in early spring and just before harvest.

Integrated Pest Control of Victorian Peach Orchards: the Role of Typhlodromus Occidentalis Nesbitt (Acarina: Phytoseiidae).

The potential importance of the predatory mite T. occidentalis in controlling Tetranychus urticae Koch, was evaluated during a 3-year period in a peach orchard at Cobram, Vic. The tolerance of the predator to parathion enabled it to survive where this chemical was applied for control of Cydia molesta Busck. T. occidentalis was not found on leaves where azinphos-methyl was applied. The use of parathion also permitted quicker recolonization by Stethorus species which, together with T. occidentalis, gave substantial control of T. urticae in two out of the three seasons. Lure jars were used to time applications of parathion; adequate control of C. molesta and Epiphyas postvittana Walker was achieved in early and mid-season peach cultivars; however, fruit from a later maturing cultivar was damaged excessively by C. molesta.