Tortricidae Research Articles

The complete mitochondrial genome of a leaf roller, Eudemis lucina (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

The leaf roller, Eudemis lucina, is a potential pest of Quercus in East Asia. In this study, we described the complete mitochondrial genome of this species by high-throughput sequencing. The mitochondrial genome is found to be a circular molecule of 16,056 bp in length, which consisted of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a non-coding control region (A + T-rich region). The A + T content is 80.5% for the whole mitogenome. All PCGs are initiated by ATN codons, except for COI which is initiated by the CGA codon. Eight PCGs use a typical stop codon of TAA, whereas the remaining PCGs use incomplete stop codon of T–– or TA–. The non-coding control region is 1013 bp and located between s-rRNA and Met-tRNA.

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of the tea leaf roller Caloptilia theivora (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

The tea leaf roller, Caloptilia theivora (Walsingham), is a serious pest of tea plants. We have obtained and annotated the complete mitochondrial genome of C. theivora (GenBank accession No. MK541932). The entire mt genome is 15,297 bp long with an A + T content of 80.66%. The mt genome of C. theivora encodes all 37 genes that are typically found in animal mt genomes, consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA, and 22 transfer RNA genes. The gene order is consistent with other moths mt genome in Ditrysia. The control region of this genome is 192 bp long with a high A + T content of 96.35%, and located between the rrnS and trnI genes. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using 13 protein-coding genes among 19 moths showed that C. theivora is closely related to species of Gracillariidae.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Phiaris dolosana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

We describe the complete mitochondrial genome of Phiaris dolosana. It is 15,562 bp in length, and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and a 612 bp D-Loop. All PCGs start with ATN codon except for COI gene, which uses CGA as the initiation codon. Nine of 13 PCGs use a typical stop codon of TAA, the rest use incomplete stop codon of T or TA. Phylogenetic analysis of P. dolosana with other 17 leaf rollers is conducted with neighbor-joining method, the result is consistent with the conventional classification.

Pest management scenario in underutilized fruit crops

Worldwide, many agricultural and horticultural crops are available as underutilized; of which, the fruit crops such as, jack, fig, annona, ber, tamarind, West Indian cherry, bael, wood apple, jamun, bread fruit, avocado, star gooseberry, karonda and mulberry are being consumed by the local habitants and have potential for value addition in the near future. These underutilized fruit species afford promising export-oriented opportunities for income generation and an increasing endorsement at national and international level is being given to tap the potential of such valuable plant species with high genetic diversity. Such attention stems out from developments over the last decade that have contributed to change the perception of people regarding the importance of such species and raised the issue on how best to pursue the promotion of underutilized species. However, production of these fruit crops is also being hampered by many pest and diseases which are being less focused. Among the insect pests, the shoot and fruit borer, Margaronia caesalis, is a major pest of jackfruit which alone can cause up to 30% yield loss (Agropedia, 2014). Likewise, the other less utilized fruit crops also suffer from pests like pink mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus in annona, fruit fly, Carpomyia vasuviana, fruit borer, Meridarches scyrodes and leaf roller, Psorostichia zizyphi in ber, shoot and capsule borer, Conogethes punctiferalis in wood apple, fruit fly, Daccus correctus in jamun, scales, Aspidiotus tamarindi in tamarind, leaf webber, Diaphinia pulverulentalis and pink mealybug, M. hirsutus in mulberry and tea mosquito bug, Helopeltis antonii in avocado. Hence, before strategies can be developed to promote the use of these underutilized fruit crops, careful analysis is necessary to monitor and document the precise impacts of pests and their management practices. Also, if it were possible to predict likely flare up of these pests before they evolve in the field, it might be feasible to have strategies to circumvent the problems. With this view, an insight into the pest problems of underutilized fruit crops and the possible ways to overcome their impact is discussed.

Extremely low neonicotinoid doses alter navigation of pest insects along pheromone plumes

The prevailing use of neonicotinoids in pest control has adverse effects on non-target organisms, like honeybees. However, relatively few studies have explored the effect of sublethal neonicotinoid levels on olfactory responses of pest insects, and thus their potential impact on semiochemical surveillance and control methods, such as monitoring or mating disruption. We recently reported that sublethal doses of the neonicotinoid thiacloprid (TIA) had dramatic effects on sex pheromone release in three tortricid moth species. We present now effects of TIA on pheromone detection and, for the first time, navigational responses of pest insects to pheromone sources. TIA delayed and reduced the percentage of males responding in the wind tunnel without analogous alteration of electrophysiological antennal responses. During navigation along an odor plume, treated males exhibited markedly slower flights and, in general, described narrower flight tracks, with an increased susceptibility to wind-induced drift. All these effects increased in a dose-dependent manner starting at LC0.001 - which would kill just 10 out of 106 individuals - and revealed an especially pronounced sensitivity in one of the species, Grapholita molesta. Our results suggest that minimal neonicotinoid quantities alter chemical communication, and thus could affect the efficacy of semiochemical pest management methods.

Developing an integrated plan of harvest protection as a tool of improving food supply security in Kyrgyzstan

The article shows that apricot plants in the South of Kyrgyzstan are wide spread in the Batken Region. This region is favorable for growing apricots sold both in the domestic and in the foreign markets. It is here where they cultivate many varieties of apricots which are subsequently exported in dried form to CIS and non-CIS states. Heat-resistant and drought-resistant rare varieties of apricots are cultivated in the Batken Region, such as: Kandak, Mirsanjeli, Khurmai, Subkhoni, Babai, Akhrori, Arzami, Isfarak, Kursadyk, Ak Uriuk (Sovetskiy). 22 species of insect pests of apricot plants were found; they are conveniently classified into five orders. The dominant pests of apricot plants are as follows: apricot seed wasps (Eurytoma samsonovi Vass.), plum seed wasps (Eurytoma schreineri Schr.), apricot snout-beetle (Rhynchites auratus ferghanensis News.), gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.), casebearer (Coleophora hemerobiolla Fil.), European leaf roller (Archips rosana L.), acacia lecanium - (Parthenolecanium corni Bouche). The most common apricot diseases in the climate of the Batken Region of Kyrgyzstan are shot-hole disease (Clasterosporium carpophilum Aderh.), frostly pod rot (Monilia cinerea Bon.), bacterial blight (Gummi.), verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae Kleb.), twig die-back (Cytospora arphosperma Fr.).

Host plant budburst and male-biased dispersal affect the genetic structure of the green oak leaf roller moth, Tortrix viridana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Host plant budburst and male-biased dispersal affect the genetic structure of the green oak leaf roller moth, Tortrix viridana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Volatiles of several grapevine cultivars emitted at different phenological stages linked to discriminatory ability of grapevine moths

The tortricid moths Lobesia botrana (Denis and Schiffermueller) and Eupoecilia ambiguella (Hubner) are major insect pests of grapevine Vitis vinifera. We compared the pattern of volatile organic compounds in headspace samples of four different grapevine cultivars in dependency of their phenological stage by thermodesorption coupled with gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry. Further, we assessed the detection of compounds by the antenna of both moth species by GC coupled with electroantennographical detection. We detected significant differences between the chemical compositions of headspace samples of the four cultivars based on the odor bouquet. By comparing the principal component linear discriminant analysis pattern of only those chemical compounds that could be actually detected by the moths’ antenna, the different cultivars showed similar odor patterns indicating that differences measured by GC may not be detected by the moths’ antenna. The supposed reduced discriminatory ability of both moth species was supported by behavioral bioassays using a Y-tube olfactometer. In connection to the recently published impact of the berries’ visual appearance (shape and color) and nonvolatile compounds of the wax layer, the presented results suggest that reported moth preferences for specific cultivars are not encoded by volatiles only. The results of this study will contribute to the development of an innovative egg-monitoring tool for grapevine moths.

Optimization of Cultural Conditions for the Antimetabolites Production by Streptomyces aureus strain BG03

An experiment was conducted to assess the impact of insecticide, lufenuron 5.4% EC on arthropod diversity in cabbage ecosystem. The two seasons diversity indices revealed 2866 arthropods from 26 families under eight orders in sprayed and unsprayed condition. Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus), two species of aphids viz., Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Brevicoryne brassicae (Linnaeus), cabbage whitefly Aleyrodes proletella (Linnaeus) were found to be a major pests of cabbage plants in this region. Minor pests are recorded as follows Cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), Leaf roller, Sylepta lunalis (Guenee), Marmalade hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus (de Geer), Painted bug, Bagrada picta (Fabricius) and Mealybug, Coccidohystrix insolita (Green). Natural enemies, predators of aphid viz., syrphids flies, coccinellid beetles, and spiders were recorded in this cabbage ecosystem. Larval parasitoids Cotesia plutellae of cabbage diamondback moth was recorded. Presence of mantids and hymenopterans (braconids) indicated the relative safety of the insecticides in these ecosystems. The biodiversity indices in the sprayed (997) and unsprayed (1869) fields showed higher diversity in unsprayed fields revealing the influence of insecticidal spraying.

Evaluation of the entomopathogenic fungi as a non-traditional control of the rice leaf roller, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) under controlled conditions

The rice leaf roller or leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a serious pest of rice crop in Pakistan. The present study was carried out to evaluate the virulence of the entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) Beauveria bassiana, Verticillium lecanii, and Metarhizium anisopliae against the third instar of C. medinalis larvae. Larvae were exposed to fungi under controlled conditions at the available commercial concentration (1 × 108 conidia ml−1). The results showed 73.33, 57.78, and 74.44% mortality rates in the in vitro assay and 56.67, 41.11 and 52.78% in the greenhouse assay of B. bassiana, V. lecanii, and M. anisopliae, respectively. The maximum mycosis from cadavers of C. medinalis was observed at B. bassiana treatment in the in vitro assay (70%) and in the greenhouse assay (53.78%). The maximum sporulation from C. medinalis cadavers was observed at B. bassiana treatment in the in vitro assay (144.67 conidia ml−1) and in greenhouse assay (96.67 conidia ml−1). These results favor the alternative use of EPF in organic rice production for management of C. medinalis.

Tortrix Moths (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) of Grafskiy Park and agrobiostation of M. Gogol Nizhyn State University (Chernigiv region, Ukraine)

An annotated list of tortricid moths (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) of the Grafsky Park and the agrobiostation of the Nizhyn Mykola Gogol State University is given for the first time. In total, from 1987 to 2018, 95 species of 13 tribes were identified in the studied area: Tortricini – 6 species, Cochylini – 12 species, Cnephasiini – 7 species, Archipini – 12 species, Sparganothini – 1 species, Endotheniini – 4 species, Bactrini – 2 species, Olethreutini – 12 species, Lobesiini – 1 species, Enarmoniini – 6 species, Eucosmini – 22 species and Grapholitini – 9 species. It is about 40% of the species diversity of tortricid moths of Chernihiv region known now, and about 17% of the fauna of Ukraine. The distribution and biology of the recorded species are analized. Herein 54 species of tortricid moths are recorded for Chernihiv region for the first time, 34 species (Tortrix viridana, Aleimma loeflingiana, Acleris holmiana, A. forsskaleana, Eupoecilia ambiguella, Archips podana, A. crataegana, A. xylosteana, Choristoneura diversana, Argyrotaenia ljungiana, Ptycholoma lecheana, Pandemis corylana, P. cerasana, P. heparana, Syndemis musculana, Adoxophyes orana, Apotomis betuletana, Orthotaenia undulana, Hedya salicella, H. nubiferana, H. pruniana, H. ochroleucana, Ancylis achatana, A. mitterbacheriana, Spilonota ocellana, Gibberifera simplana, Epinotia nisella, Notocelia uddmanniana, Cydia pomonella, C. pyrivora, C. fagiglandana, C. splendana, C. amplana, Grapholita funebrana) are known as pests of deciduous trees and 4 species (Piniphila bifasciana, Gravitarmata margarotana, Rhyacionia buoliana, Cydia strobilella) are known as pests of coniferous trees.

Biotic stress (insect) of aonla (Emblica officinalis)in arid region of India: a review

Indian gooseberry, Emblica officinalis popularly also known as Aonla, amla, amrit phal is found attacked various number of insect-pests causing considerable damage. In India, the major insect-pests reported from aonla are shoot gall maker Betousa stylophora; leaf roller, Caloptilia (Garcillaria) acidula; hairy caterpillar, Selepa celtis; bark eating caterpillar, Indarbela quardrionotata; leaf roller, Tonica (Psorosticha) ziziphy; bag worm, Zeuzera sp.; fruit borer, Meridarchis sp.; pomegranate butter fly, Deudorix isocrates; fruit sucking moth, Achaea janata; fruit midge, Clinodiplosis sp.; cow bug, Tricentrus congestus; plant hopper, Seliza truncate; spherical mealy bug, Nipaecoccus viridis; weevil, Myllocerus discolour; termite, Odontotermes obesus; leaf miner, Phyllocnistis citrella and hairy caterpillars, Euproctis fraterna.

Local and regional climate variables driving spring phenology of tortricid pests: a 36 year study

1. Insect phenology is driven by local climate variables, most notably temperature. Increased warming has been linked to advancements in critical phenophases such as the spring flight of reproductive adults in the mid‐Atlantic region of the U.S.A.2. Local climate is governed by the fluctuations of large‐scale climate oscillations. In the northern hemisphere, both the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Arctic Oscillation (AO) control the local autumn and winter severity. Low NAO and AO indices are associated with colder autumns and winters, which can delay spring phenology.3. In this study, 36 years of data from experimental fruit orchards in Biglerville, Pennsylvania, were used to run partial least‐squares regressions in order to determine the climate variables related to the spring phenology of five tortricid pest species.4. The phenology of the tortricid pests did not advance, even though there was evidence of warming at the research site.5. Spring temperatures were found to be the most significant climate variables in determining the timing of the spring flights. However, autumn–winter temperatures were also important.6. For the NAO and the AO, it was found that these oscillations affected the tortricid moths by influencing autumn–winter conditions. The oscillations of the NAO and AO can obscure long‐term changes in phenology.7. These findings suggest that the inclusion of large‐scale climate oscillations can provide important insights into how climate conditions can influence insect phenology, and presents an opportunity for improving the ability to forecast spring emergence.

Use of Ethyl Formate Fumigation to Control Adult Bean Thrips in Navel Oranges.

Shipments of California Navel oranges (Citrus sinensis) (Osbeck)) that are found to be infested with adult bean thrips (Caliothrips fasciatus (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)) upon arrival in Australia either undergo mandatory fumigation with methyl bromide (MeBr) to kill the thrips or are refused entry. Ethyl formate (EtF) mixed with carbon dioxide (CO₂) is an effective fumigant for control of various arthropods including but not limited to, thrips, aphids, Pacific spider mites, California red scale, and omnivorous leaf rollers. Dose-mortality curves at 5°C, 10°C, and 15°C were developed for control of adult bean thrips using EtF plus CO₂, with 5°C being more effective. In further testing, the efficacy of EtF plus CO₂ against adult bean thrips in Navel oranges and the impact on fruit quality after fumigation followed by 5 wk of storage at 5°C and shelf life at 20°C was determined. Fruit fumigated with 31 g/m3 EtF plus CO₂ at 5°C for 1 h showed no difference in quality compared with untreated control fruit. Ethyl formate plus CO₂ fumigation efficacy was confirmed in a 27.32 m3 sea freight container with eight pallets of packed Navel oranges (load factor 28.69%) and 10,000-15,000 adult bean thrips in each of three replications. Complete control of adult bean thrips was achieved with no negative effects on fruit quality.

Species Composition and Population Dynamics of Dominant Dendrophagous Moths (Lepidoptera) in St. Petersburg and Its Environs

The paper summarizes new and literature data on the species composition, trophic relationships, and population dynamics of phyllophagous lepidopterans dominant on woody plants in St. Petersburg and its environs (Russia). Most of these species have concealed larvae (e.g., leaf miners and leaf rollers), and some of them are invasive. The data were accumulated during approximately a hundred years of observations and field collections. Concealed species form the dominant group within the studied complex of phyllophagous moths in St. Petersburg and Leningrad Province (27 species from 13 families). Changes in the composition of dominant pests of the dog rose, bird cherry, elm, poplar, and other woody plants have been recorded. Outbreaks of some species, such as Phyllonorycter salicicolella (Gracillariidae), Archips rosana (Tortricidae), Leucoma salicis, Lymantria monacha, and Orgyia antiqua (Erebidae), were recorded during the XX century but since about 1980 the population density of these species has remained at a very low level. Another group of species, which includes Phyllonorycter populifoliella (Gracillariidae), Batrachedra praeangusta (Batrachedridae), Acleris bergmanniana, and Epinotia abbreviana (Tortricidae), demonstrated a sharp increase in population density in the 1990–2000s, a phenomenon which had not been observed before. The possible causes of such population dynamics are discussed. The dominant species of phyllophagous micro-lepidopterans, including some recent invaders (e.g., Cameraria ohridella and Phyllonorycter issikii, Gracillariidae) and adventive species (e.g., Ph. populifoliella and Ph. acerifoliella, Gracillariidae) pose a serious threat to woody plants in St. Petersburg and Leningrad Province.

Monitoring of Moth Pests in Apple Tree Orchard

Abstract The work suggests importance of monitoring apple tree pests from moth group in growing conditions of Nitra, Slovakia. In 2014 there was observed occurrence of moths e.g. Codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.), Appleseed moth (Grapholita lobarzewskii Now.), Hawthorn berry moth (G. janthinana Dup.), and Summer fruit tortrix moth (Adoxophyes orana Fish. v. Roesl.) in the apple tree orchard located in the Botanical Garden of SUA in Nitra with help of pheromone traps. The date of first generation occurrence of Codling moth, Appleseed moth and Summer fruit tortrix moth was recorded on April 23. All the pests showed two peaks of flight activity, but with Hawthorn berry moth three periods of higher occurrence were recorded. The course of temperatures influenced number of pests trapped in traps remarkably. The number of pest individuals was highly influenced by rainy weather and lower temperatures in months when there was expected their highest harmfulness. The recorded values might be influenced by plant species diversity of the experimental orchard as well as that of the surrounding area.

Males of the tortricid moth Amorbia cuneana (Walsingham, 1879) shed their genital spines inside the female during copulation

The genitalia of most insect species are composed of several structures whose functions are poorly understood in many cases. The deciduous genital spines (deciduous cornuti, DC) found on the endophallus of many species of Lepidoptera are a clear example of this problem. We performed two experimental studies with the western avocado leafroller Amorbia cuneana (Tortricidae), aimed at answering some basic questions about the biology of DC. We found that the number of DC shows positive allometry with male forewing length, indicating that larger males have disproportionally more DC than smaller males. Males, with very few exceptions, shed virtually all their DC in their first copulation. The position of DC within the female varies depending on time elapsed after copulation. We observed that mated males without DC are able to remate and transfer an ejaculate. Finally, we found that resource restriction during the last larval instar of males results in a reduction in the number of DC. We suggest that DC reduce the chances of recopulation of mated females, that the production of DC is physiologically costly, and that first copulations are more important for male fitness.

Notes on insects captured in codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) surveillance traps in South Korea over the last eight years

A total of 53 non‐target species representing six orders of insects were captured in the codling moth, Cydia pomonella surveillance traps placed in South Korea over the last 8 years. These included 20 species (37.7%) of moths (Lepidoptera) belonging to 9 families of which 9 species were tortricids, 12 species (22.6%) of beetles (Coleoptera) belonging to 10 families, 11 species (20.8%) of flies (Diptera) belonging to 7 families; 5 species of true bugs (Hemiptera) belonging to 4 families including one species of Anthocoridae (9.4%); 2 species (3.8%) of Hymenoptera belonging to the family of Formicidae and 3 species (5.7%) of Neuroptera belonging to the family Chrysopidae. A list of the species of non‐target insects captured in the codling moth surveillance traps is provided. A brief description and photographs of Aterpia issikii Kawabe are provided: this is the first record of the tortricid moth for South Korea.

Two new species of Megalota from the Bahamas (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethruetinae).

Two new species of Megalota Diakonoff, 1966 are described and illustrated from the Bahamas: M. bahamana Brown Matthews, new species, and M. insularis Brown and Matthews, new species. The two are among the 65 or so species of Tortricidae recorded from the Bahamas during an inventory of the Lepidoptera of the archipelago initiated in 2010.

Insights into the Structure of the Spruce Budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) Genome, as Revealed by Molecular Cytogenetic Analyses and a High-Density Linkage Map.

Genome structure characterization can contribute to a better understanding of processes such as adaptation, speciation, and karyotype evolution, and can provide useful information for refining genome assemblies. We studied the genome of an important North American boreal forest pest, the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana, through a combination of molecular cytogenetic analyses and construction of a high-density linkage map based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers obtained through a genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) approach. Cytogenetic analyses using fluorescence in situ hybridization methods confirmed the haploid chromosome number of n = 30 in both sexes of C. fumiferana and showed, for the first time, that this species has a WZ/ZZ sex chromosome system. Synteny analysis based on a comparison of the Bombyx mori genome and the C. fumiferana linkage map revealed the presence of a neo-Z chromosome in the latter species, as previously reported for other tortricid moths. In this neo-Z chromosome, we detected an ABC transporter C2 (ABCC2) gene that has been associated with insecticide resistance. Sex-linkage of the ABCC2 gene provides a genomic context favorable to selection and rapid spread of resistance against Bacillus thuringiensis serotype kurstaki (Btk), the main insecticide used in Canada to control spruce budworm populations. Ultimately, the linkage map we developed, which comprises 3586 SNP markers distributed over 30 linkage groups for a total length of 1720.41 cM, will be a valuable tool for refining our draft assembly of the spruce budworm genome.