Tortricidae Research Articles

Identification of tea foliar diseases and pest damage under practical field conditions using a convolutional neural network

AbstractLesions of tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves are detrimental to the growth of tea crops. Their adverse effects include further disease of tea leaves and a direct reduction in yield and profit. Therefore, early detection and on‐site monitoring of tea leaf lesions are necessary for effective management to control infections and prevent further yield loss. In this study, 1,822 images of tea leaves with lesions caused by three diseases (brown blight, Colletotrichum camelliae; blister blight, Exobasidium vexans; and algal leaf spot, Cephaleuros virescens) and four pests (leaf miner, Tropicomyia theae; tea thrip, Scirtothrips dorsalis; tea leaf roller, Homona magnanima; and tea mosquito bug, Helopeltis fasciaticollis) were collected from northern and central Taiwan. A faster region‐based convolutional neural network (Faster R‐CNN) was then trained to detect the locations of the lesions on the leaves and to identify the causes of the lesions. The trained Faster R‐CNN detector achieved a precision of 77.5%, recall of 70.6%, an F1 score of 73.91%, and a mean average precision of 66.02%. An overall accuracy of 89.4% was obtained for identification of the seven classes of tea diseases and pests. The developed detector could assist tea farmers in identifying the causes of lesions in real time.

Natria mauritius, a new genus and a new species of tortricid moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) from Nahuelbuta mountains, Chile

Se describe un nuevo género y una nueva especie de Tortricidae, Natria mauritius, a partir de ejemplares recolectados en la cordillera de Nahuelbuta, Contulmo, Chile. Se señalan caracteres de diagnóstico para el género y la especie, se proveen ilustraciones del adulto y de las estructurasgenitales.

EFIKASI EKSTRAK BIJI JARAK PAGAR MORTALITAS LARVA PENGGULUNG DAUN (Lamposema indicate) PADA TANAMAN KEDELAI (Glycine max)

Soybean leaf roller known as Lamposema indicata. These insects attack the leaves of soybean plants by rolling up soybean leaves, that are launched 3-4 weeks after planting. The research aims to find out application of Jathropha curcas extract againts the mortality of soybean leaf roller pest (Lamposema indicata) and reduce damage to soybean plants. This research was conducted in the experimental garden, Faculty of Agriculture, Teuku Umar University in October to November 2019. The research was arranged in a non factorial Completely Randomized Design consisting of 4 levels with 5 replications. The factors experience is Jathropha curcas seed extract concentrate are E1 (control), E1 (20%, E2 (13.3% and E3 (10%). The results shows Lamprosema mortality shows the highest found in the E3 regulation, this is because in the E3 setting it has a high concentration so that the composition of the poisons contained is also high. Castor seed extract (Jatropha curcas) contains the composition of phorbol ester and cursin. Based on the observations displayed during the observation, namely changes in behavior, slowing movement of larvae, discoloration from clear green to pale yellow and compacting of the larva's body cavity.Keywords: Effectiveness of concentration, mortality, leafworm caterpillars

Biological characteristics and efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis var. thuringiensis against the cotton leaf roller, Syllepte derogata (Fabricius, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an important fiber crop cultivated in > 50 countries of the world. The cotton leaf roller Syllepte derogata (Fabricius, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is considered as an invasive and widespread species in many geographic regions of the world and pose significant damages to cotton crop. This study reported the first record of S. derogata and its biological characteristics in Azerbaijan. The results indicated that S. derogata was only observed on cotton crop from the Absheron region of the country. The larvae only attacked on cotton leaves and did not damage the reproductive organs (i.e., bolls). S. derogata completed one generation in 31–42 days in the Absheron region. Larvicidal efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis var. thuringiensis (Btt) against S. derogata was also tested under laboratory and field conditions. Three different Btt concentrations (0.3, 0.4, 0.5 g/l) were tested against 2nd and 4th larval instars of S. derogata. The 0.5 g/l concentration of Btt caused 72.88% larval mortality under field conditions. However, under laboratory conditions, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 g/l concentrations caused 50, 66.67, and 100% mortality of the 2nd instar larvae on the 7th day, respectively. The 0.5 g/l suspension of Btt proved the most effective against S. derogata; therefore, it can be recommended for the management of S. derogata in the infested region of the country. This study further warns that S. derogata could spread to the other cotton-producing regions of the country; thus, an effective early warning and rapid response system must be developed for the pest in the country.

Nature of Damage and Infestation of Dominant Foliage Herbivore of Soybean at Jimma-Iluababora, Ethiopia

Leaf herbivore insects are among the most serious pests of soybean in Ethiopia. A survey was conducted on 90 farms in three main soybean growing districts in Jimma and Iluababora zones of Ethiopia. The objectives were to assess the socio demographic information of the farmers, to identify farmers’ pest management practices and to study the importance and infestation of dominant leaf herbivore insect pests of soybean. The statistical analysis showed there is highly significant (p<0001) difference among studied districts in area coverage of soybean production and the majority of the farmers (81.1%) produce soybean below a hectare. Farmers were using different pest management methods to reduce damage caused by leaf phaga insect pests which concentrated on cultural method. Crop rotation was one of the main farming systems practiced by 80% at Tiroafeta and 96.7 and 100 % at Chewaka and Darimu districts. About 16.7% farmers of Tiroafeta were not practiced any management practices for pest management where as only 3.3 % of them practiced manually hand picking method at Chewaka. At Darimu district, all surveyed farmers did not get any access to crop protection training, but at Tiroafeta and Chewaka only 3.3 % of them got training opportunity provided by research center. The study revealed that the mean infestation level of green clover worm was 29.8 % at Tiroafeta district and 47 and 50.4 % at Chewaka and Darimu. The mean infestation of soybean semilooper was 25.3 % at Tiroafeta and 14.6 and 15.6 % at Chewaka and Darimu districts. The study showed that infestation of soybean leaf roller ranged from 2.5 to 8.2 % in Jimma zone and up to 74 % in Iluababora. Generally, these insect pests, needs due attention conducting regular scouting in unaddressed areas are very important for integrated pest management. Keywords: Green cloverworm, infestation, leaf roller, semi-looper, soybean DOI: 10.7176/JEES/10-7-02 Publication date: July 31 st 2020

New host and distribution records for Grapholita prunivora (Walsh, 1868) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in California

New host and distribution records for Grapholita prunivora (Walsh, 1868) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in California

Odorant receptor phylogeny confirms conserved channels for sex pheromone and host plant signals in tortricid moths.

The search for mates and food is mediated by volatile chemicals. Insects sense food odorants and sex pheromones through odorant receptors (ORs) and pheromone receptors (PRs), which are expressed in olfactory sensory neurons. Molecular phylogenetics of ORs, informed by behavioral and functional data, generates sound hypotheses for the identification of semiochemicals driving olfactory behavior. Studying orthologous receptors and their ligands across taxa affords insights into the role of chemical communication in reproductive isolation and phylogenetic divergence. The female sex pheromone of green budworm moth Hedya nubiferana (Lepidoptera, Totricidae) is a blend of two unsaturated acetates, only a blend of both elicits male attraction. Females produce in addition codlemone, which is the sex pheromone of another tortricid, codling moth Cydia pomonella. Codlemone also attracts green budworm moth males. Concomitantly, green budworm and codling moth males are attracted to the host plant volatile pear ester. A congruent behavioral response to the same pheromone and plant volatile in two tortricid species suggests co‐occurrence of dedicated olfactory channels. In codling moth, one PR is tuned to both compounds, the sex pheromone codlemone and the plant volatile pear ester. Our phylogenetic analysis finds that green budworm moth expresses an orthologous PR gene. Shared ancestry, and high levels of amino acid identity and sequence similarity, in codling and green budworm moth PRs offer an explanation for parallel attraction of both species to the same compounds. A conserved olfactory channel for a sex pheromone and a host plant volatile substantiates the alliance of social and habitat signals in insect chemical communication. Field attraction assays confirm that in silico investigations of ORs afford powerful predictions for an efficient identification of behavior‐modifying semiochemicals, for an improved understanding of the mechanisms of host plant attraction in insect herbivores and for the further development of sustainable insect control.

A real time surveillance on disease and pest monitoring, characterization and conventional management strategy of major cultivated crops in tropical savanna climatic region of Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh

Plant disease is defined as a malfunction or dysfunction of plant physiological normal activities with addition of behaviousristic or morphological changes of normal cell shape and size. Surveillance is an active or passive way of collecting, analyzing, interpreting information on disease occurrence in specified area which is further utilizable to control the effectiveness of the specified disease. Rural Entrepreneurship Awareness Development Yojana (READY) is a real time based experiential learning programme with combination of field based practical training and business application in agriculture sciences. Centurion University of Technology and Management (CUTM) every year organized READY programme under the curriculum of agriculture which helps in one direction to for in hand training of new agriculturist, on the other hand it transferred new modern scientific skills to the poor grass hood level farmers. This programme revealed with some remarkable data’s of some severe pest-disease infestation in a broader spectrum. Different biotic factors will considered to be the most influential factor among them. Major diseases and pests include rice blast, northern corn blight, black rot of cole crops, chilli leaf curl virus etc. The different types of pests observed are sucking pests, fruit borers, leaf rollers, leaf eating caterpillars etc. and their incidence level ranged between 25-60%. Crucial epidemiological factors like moderate temperature (30-35° C), high humidity (85-90%) and scattered rainfall (120-150 mm). The present investigation through real time surveillance and monitoring, we are trying to focus major biotic stresses, their behaviouristic nature and their conventional management strategy which applied for long time.

Verification of Glyphosate Resistance, Lepidopteran Resistance and Wide Compatibility of Male Sterile Line E1C4008S in Rice

Weeds and insect pests are two important biotic stresses resulting in yield loss in rice, and wide compatibility is the essential characteristic of breeding inter-subspecific hybrid rice. This study focused on glyphosate resistance, lepidopteran resistance and wide compatibility as well as identification of molecular and some agronomic characteristics of transgenic male sterile line E1C4008S. The results indicated that glyphosate resistance gene Epsps# and lepidopteran resistance gene Cry1ca# were transferred into japonica wide compatibility male sterile line 4008S by Agrobacterium-mediated method, and four independent transformation events named E1C4008S-1, E1C4008S-2, E1C4008S-3 and E1C4008S-4 were obtained, in which E1C4008S-3 and E1C4008S-4 were of single copy insertion. The EPSPS protein contents of E1C4008S-3 and E1C4008S-4 in different organs were significantly different both in descending order of leaf>stem>root, and ranged from 300.58 to 1410.69μg/g at the tillering stage. The glyphosate tolerable concentration (dosage) of E1C4008S-3 and E1C4008S-4 reached at least 16g/L (54.42kg/hm2), and the seeds of E1C4008S-4 can germinate normally on the medium containing 1g/L glyphosate. The CRY1C protein contents of E1C4008S-3 and E1C4008S-4 in different organs were significantly different both in descending order of leaf>stem>root, and ranged from 0.62 to 2.43μg/g at the tillering stage. The larvae mortalities of rice leaf rollers fed on leaves of E1C4008S-3 and E1C4008S-4 for 5 d were 95.35% and 97.77%, respectively, while the average mortalities of silkworms fed with protein extracts from leaves of E1C4008S-3 and E1C4008S-4 reached 94.55% and 83.64%, respectively. The results suggested that wide compatibility and evaluated agronomic traits of E1C4008S-4 were not significantly changed by insertion of the exogenous genes. Overall, a novel male sterile germplasm with glyphosate resistance, lepidopteran resistance and wide compatibility was verified to be developed in rice.

New records of leaf-mining Tortricidae (Lepidoptera) in North America,with the description of a new species of Grapholita.

We discuss seven species of tortricid moths that are leafminers at least in early instars. These include Grapholita thermopsidis Eiseman Austin, new species, which feeds on Thermopsis rhombifolia (Pursh) Richardson (Fabaceae), along with two others for which larval hosts were previously unknown: Catastega triangulana Brown (Ericaceae: Arctostaphylos pungens Kunth) and Sparganothis xanthoides (Walker) (Polemoniaceae: Phlox divaricata L.). Parasitoids of G. thermopsidis include Dolichogenidea sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Zagrammosoma mirum Girault (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). The female genitalia of Epinotia nigralbana (Walsingham), a species that mines leaves of Arctostaphylos throughout larval development, are illustrated for the first time. Rhopobota finitimana (Heinrich), which feeds on Ilex spp. (Aquifoliaceae), is confirmed to mine leaves as has been documented previously in R. dietziana (Kearfott). Talponia plummeriana (Busck), which is known to feed in the developing ovaries of pawpaw (Annonaceae: Asimina spp.), also feeds in leaves before boring in the twigs and stems. Cenopis lamberti (Franclemont), previously reported from Persea sp. (Lauraceae), was reared from Symplocos tinctoria (L.) L'Hér. (Symplocaceae). Apart from the two exceptions noted above, all of these species exit their mines in later instars to feed in leaf shelters.

Diversity of Insect Pest and Predator Species in Monsoon and Summer Rice Fields of Taungoo Environs, Myanmar

Paddy fields are natural and artificial wetland ecosystems that supply rice for the people and provide the wildlife especially insect diversity of different functional aspects. A total of 71 insect species belonging to 40 families under eight orders were observed during the study period. Among the 71 insect species, 18 species of beetles, nine species of bugs, eight species of dragonfly, five species of butterflies, four species of leafhoppers, plant hoppers and moths, three borer and spiders, two crickets, one species of skippers, grass hopper, hispa, ant, weevil, hairy caterpillar, leaf roller, katydid, thrips, maggot and water boatmen were recorded in the study sites. Total of 41 species of pests, 18 species of predators and 12 species of beneficial species (they function as pollinating the flowering plants in the paddy field wetland ecosystem) were recorded in the study sites. In the monsoon season, the 41 species of pest species, 18 species of predator species and 12 species of beneficial species were recorded from monsoon rice field. According to Shannon Evenness value (H'/S = -0.012564), the data showed that the insect species recorded from the one habitat was not the similar to another. In summer paddy fields, 36 species of pest species, 16 species of predator species and 9 species of beneficial species were recorded. Total arthropod insect species were recorded 61 species from the dry rice fields. According to Shannon Evenness value (H'/S = -0.000120), the data showed that the insect species recorded from the one habitat was not the similar to another. Population growth and duration of life cycle of insects is mainly dominated by the temperature, the duration of life cycle is shorter in the high temperature than in the low temperature.

Results of long-term use of pheromone traps to monitor harmful tortricid moths in Leningrad Region of Russia

Monitoring the population dynamics of harmful moths using synthetic sex attractants in Leningrad Region was carried out in the fruit experimental orchard of St. Petersburg Agrarian University (Pushkin) and small private orchards of Pushkin district. As a result of the analysis of many years temperature characteristics of vegetation seasons in the Leningrad Region and calculation of the sums of effective temperatures, it has been found that the codling moth had high numbers and developed in two full generations in 1999, 2002, 2006, 2013 and 2018. The complex of phytophagous leaf rollers as a whole can cause sometimes significant harm to both industrial orchards and homestead lands, because the economic threshold of harmfulness by yield losses is often achieved, when plants are damaged by more than one pest species, each of which causing only weak harm. As a general conclusion, the complex of orchard leaf rollers is a dynamic system. Their development and numbers ratio is influenced by weather conditions of a year and climate changes in general.

First report of Crocidosema (Epinotia) cosmoptila Meyrick, 1917 (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Brazil.

First report of Crocidosema (Epinotia) cosmoptila Meyrick, 1917 (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Brazil.

Tallow Leaf Roller (suggested common name) Caloptilia triadicae (Davis) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

Also published as part of the Featured Creatures collection: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/BENEFICIAL/LEPS/Caloptilia_triadicae.html&#x0D; Tallow Leaf Roller (suggested common name) Caloptilia triadicae (Davis) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1256

A combination of rice cultivar mixed-cropping and duck co-culture suppressed weeds and pests in paddy fields

Industrial agriculture with intensive use of herbicides and pesticides has resulted in a great reduction of biodiversity and negative environmental impacts on rice paddy fields. Biodiversity-based farming systems can improve production efficiency and sustainability, with fewer negative environmental impacts and lower use of external inputs. Previous studies have reported that both the rice-duck co-culture systems and mixed-cropping systems with different rice cultivars can suppress weed communities and control harmful pests. However, little is known about the effects of an integration of mixed-cropping with different rice cultivars and rice-duck co-culture on weed communities and pests in paddy fields. Four combinations with three replications of each treatment were employed, half with and half without ducks in paddy fields, which were compared with mono-cropping systems of the five rice cultivars. After two-season experiments, we found that species richness and diversity of weed communities in the mixed-cropping with rice-duck co-culture (MCDC) systems were significantly lower than those in the mono-cropping systems. The abundance of rice leaf roller in the MCDC systems was also significantly lower than that in the mono-cropping systems. Our findings indicated that the biodiversity-based farming would be an environmentally friendly approach to control weeds and rice leaf roller without using herbicides or pesticides in paddy fields, and hence to produce more safe, healthy, and high-quality rice and duck meat.

Controlling the abundance of the rose tortrix moth [Archips rosana (L.)] by parasitoids in apple orchards in Wielkopolska, Poland

The rose tortrix moth Archips rosana (Linnaeus) is a dominant species among leafroller moths in&lt;br /&gt;Poland’s apple orchards. The study found high levels of parasitisation of the tortrix (15.5–40.1%), with the average level of parasitisation of 24.6%, by parasitoids of the families Ichneumonidae, Chalcididae and Tachinidae. The most effective were the Ichneumonidae, which decreased the tortrix abundance by 17.2%. The rose tortrix moth was parasitised by 7 Ichneumonidae species, namely: Trichomma enecator (Rossi), Phaeogenes semivulpinu (Gravenhorsts), Exochus mitratus (Gravenhorsts), Apechthis quadridentata (Thomson), Apechthis rufata (Gmelin in Linnaeus), Itoplectis maculator (Fabricius) and Pimpla turionellae (Linnaeus). The tortrix abundance was mainly reduced by I. maculator, which parasitised 5.1–32.2% of the pupae (15% on average).

Ant-mealybug mutualism modulates the performance of co-occurring herbivores

Mutualism between ants and honeydew producing hemipterans has been extensively studied. However, little is known on how ant-hemipteran mutualism impacts the co-occurring herbivores, which in turn affect the mutual relationship in ecosystems. Herein, we investigated the effect of ant-mealybug mutualism on the oviposition preference and spatial distribution of cotton leaf roller Sylepta derogata, a polyphagous herbivore, and in Apantetes derogatae performance, a larvae parasitoid of S. derogata. Leaf rollers constructed shelters for mealybugs to prevent them from enemy attack and preferred to lay eggs on plants with ant-mealybug mutualism. Egg abundance on mutualism-present plants was higher than on mutualism-absent plants. Leaf roller parasitoid A. derogatae showed higher parasitism on mutualism-absent plants. No obvious change in leaf roller egg abundance was observed when A. derogatae was excluded, suggesting that the parasitic pressure can also regulate the oviposition behavior of S. derogate. Apantetes derogatae showed higher aggressiveness in parasitizing leaf roller larvae at the absence of the mutualism. There was a definite correlation between leaf roller egg abundance and the number of patrolling ants on plants. Without ant-mealybug mutualism, S. derogata eggs showed a significantly aggregated distribution pattern, but a uniform distribution pattern was observed when the mutualism was present. Ant workers showed a consistently uniform distribution on plants. The results reveal a novel mediation effect of ant-mealybug association on the composition and structure of food webs in cotton field, which may contribute to a better understanding of the cascading effects of ant-hemipteran mutualism on other niche-related species in ecosystem.

The Tortricidae (Lepidoptera) of Bhutan.

Twenty-five species of Tortricidae from Bhutan are discussed, 14 of which are recorded for the first time: Acleris perfundana Kuznetsov, 1962, Archipslimatus Razowski, 1977, Chirapsina expleta (Meyrick, 1923), Clepsis humana (Meyrick, 1912), Adoxophyes privatana (Walker, 1863), Lumaria probolias (Meyrick, 1907), Meridemis bathymorpha Diakonoff, 1976, Isodemis illiberalis Meyrick, 1918, Lobesia ambigua Diakonoff, 1954, Metendothenia ordospina Jirasuttayaporn Pinkeaw, 2018, Gibberifera glaciata (Meyrick, 1907), Crocidosema plebejana Zeller, 1847, Lepteucosma charassuncus Razowski, 2006, and Microsarotis bicincta Diakonoff, 1976. Females of Chirapsina expleta and Epiblemacharadrias Diakonoff, 1977 are described and illustrated for the first time. Nine new species are described: Eupoecilia jakarana, sp. nov., E. gedui, sp. nov., Lumaria phuntschona, sp. nov., Borneogena trashiyana, sp. nov., Bactra cophinana, sp. nov., Penthostola subnigrantis, sp. nov., M. brunnofasciana, sp. nov., Peridaedala nigrifasciana, sp. nov., and Epiblema albulusana, sp. nov. Adults and their genitalia are illustrated.

Frugivorous Insects Reared from Chytranthus obliquinervis Radlk. (Sapindales: Sapindaceae) with the Description of a New Monophagous Species of Grapholita Treitschke (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Ripe fruits of Chytranthus obliquinervis were sampled from a tree in Buda Forest in coastal Kenya. Four species of insects were reared from the fruits, two species of Tephritidae, an undescribed species of gelechiid moth, and a new species of tortricid moth, Grapholita chytranthusi Razowski, sp. n., described herein. No parasitoids were reared. Notes on the biology, distribution, and conservation status of the host and its pests are included.

Neuropeptides and peptide hormones identified in codling moth, Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).

The codling moth, Cydia pomonella, is a worldwide pest of pome fruits. Neuropeptides regulate most physiological functions in insects and represent new targets for the development of control agents. The only neuropeptides reported from the codling moth to date are the allatostatin A family peptides. To identify other neuropeptides and peptide hormones from codling moth, we analyzed head transcriptomes, identified 50 transcripts, and predicted 120 prepropeptides for the codling moth neuropeptides and peptide hormones. All transcripts were amplified, and these sequences were verified. One of the notable findings in this study is that diapause hormones (DHs) reported from Tortricid moths, including the codling moth, do not have the WFGPRL sequence in C-terminal ends in the pban genes. The C-terminal motif is critical to characterize insect DH peptides, and always conserved in pban/dh genes in Lepidoptera and many insect orders. Interestingly, the WFGPRL sequence was produced only from the capa gene in the codling moth. The allatostatin A-family encoding transcript predicted nine peptides, seven of which, as expected, are identical to those previously isolated from the moth. We also identified new codling moth orthologs of insect neuropeptides including CCHamides, allatostatin CC, RYamides, and natalisins. The information provided in this study will benefit future codling moth investigations using peptidoproteomics to determine peptide presence and functions.