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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #226090
Title: Effect of rearing strategy and gamma radiation on fecundity and fertility of codling moth Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Author
item Carpenter, James
item BLOEM, S - USDA APHIS PPQ
item TAGGART, S - OKANAGAN-KOOTENAY,CANADA

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2009
Publication Date: 3/2/2009
Citation: Carpenter, J.E., Bloem, S., Taggart, S. 2010. Effect of rearing strategy and gamma radiation on fecundity and fertility of codling moth Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Journal of Applied Entomology. 134:221-226.

Interpretive Summary: The codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), is a serious pest of pome fruit worldwide. In an effort to reduce the use of pesticides to control this pest, the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is being used or considered as an integrated pest control tactic. Rearing codling moths through diapause has been shown to improve competitiveness of sterile moths released in the orchards, and to provide management alternatives that would allow mass rearing facilities to increase their yearly production of sterile moths. Because radiosensitivity in insects can be influenced by numerous biological factors, we conducted laboratory tests to examine whether the response to increasing doses of radiation, as expressed in the fecundity and fertility of cohorts of moths, is similar for adult moths mass-reared through diapause or through standard (non-diapause) production protocols. Our data revealed that the effect of increasing doses of radiation on fecundity and fertility of codling moths reared through both rearing strategies was similar. In the case of the data on fertility, this is a particularly important finding for the expanded application of codling moth SIT. If mass-rearing facilities use year-round diapause rearing, the dose required to treat the insects prior to release will be similar than when codling moths are reared through standard production protocols.

Technical Abstract: The codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), is a serious pest of pome fruit worldwide. In an effort to reduce the use of pesticides to control this pest, the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is being used or considered as an integrated pest control tactic. Rearing codling moths through diapause has been shown to improve competitiveness of sterile moths released in the orchards, and to provide management alternatives that would allow mass rearing facilities to increase their yearly production of sterile moths. Because radiosensitivity in insect can be influenced by numerous biological factors, we conducted laboratory tests to examine whether the response to increasing doses or radiation, as expressed in the fecundity and fertility of cohorts of moths, is similar for adult moths mass-reared through diapause or through standard (non-diapause) production protocols. Our data revealed that the effect of increasing doses of radiation on fecundity and fertility of codling moths reared through both rearing strategies was similar. In the case of the data on fertility, this is a particularly important finding for the expanded application of codling moth SIT. If mass-rearing facilities use year-round diapause rearing, the dose required to treat the insects prior to release will be similar than when codling moths are reared through standard production protocols.