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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #125434
Title: ATTRACTION OF MATING FEMALE CODLING MOTHS, LASPEYRESIA POMONELLA L. (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE) TO APPLES AND APPLE ODOR IN A FLIGHT TUNNEL

Author
item REED, HAL - ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY
item Landolt, Peter

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2002
Publication Date: 5/15/2002
Citation: Reed, H.C., Landolt, P.J. 2002. Attraction of mating female codling moths, Laspeyresia pomonella l. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) to apples and apple odor in a flight tunnel. Florida Entomologist. 85:324-329.

Interpretive Summary: Novel pest control methods are needed that are effective, economical, safe, and are environmentally compatible. The codling moth is a key pest of apple and pear fruits in the United States and is currently managed primarily by insecticide applications and by mating disruption supplemented by insecticide applications. Scientists at the USDA-ARS Yakima Agricultural Research Laboratory are working to develop attractants for this pest as a means of reducing fruit infestation. It was found that adults of the codling moth are attracted to odors of apple fruit and that they are more strongly attracted to apple fruit that has already been infested by a codling moth larva. These findings will assist efforts to identify useful host attractants from apple fruit and to develop behavioral assays for use in isolating those attractants. Identification of these host attractants will permit the development of baits to control codling moth with reduced pesticide use.

Technical Abstract: In a flight tunnel, mated female codling moths, Laspeyresia pomonella L., exhibited attraction responses in response to cold- stored thinning apples and to the odor of cold-stored thinning apples. Significant numbers of codling moths exhibited this behavior in response to cold-stored thinning apples that were infested with codling moth larvae or were un-infested. However, percentages of codling moths responding to airflow passed over cold-stored thinning apples that were invested was not significantly greater than percentages of moths responding to airflow over thinning apples that were un-infested. Significant numbers of mated female codling moths were captured in traps in a flight tunnel that were baited with fresh-picked immature apples or in traps through which airflow from over fresh-picked immature apples was passed. Significant numbers of moths were captured to traps baited with un-infested fresh-picked apples. Also, more codling moths were captured in traps through which airflow from over infested or un-infested apples was passed, and more were captured in traps with airflow from over infested apples compared to un-infested apples.