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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #135904
Title: LABORATORY INFESTATION OF SWEET CHERRY BY CODLING MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE): FACTORS AFFECTING SURVIVAL

Author
item Hansen, James D
item Heidt, Mildred - Millie

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/10/2003
Publication Date: 3/15/2003
Citation: Hansen, J.D., Heidt, M.L. 2003. Laboratory infestation of sweet cherry by codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae): factors affecting survival. Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology. 19:173-181.

Interpretive Summary: Japan requires that sweet cherries from the United States be treated to control the codling moth, a quarantine pest. Thus, various laboratory experiments have been conducted to determine insect survival in order to better understand the feeding habits of the codling moth on cherry. Yet, the codling moth life cycle in cherries has been poorly documented. Hence, how the experiments were designed could greatly influence the results. In this study, we examined several factors that may affect insect survival in the laboratory. We found that codling moth survival did not differ with the postharvest age of cherries. The type of container used in previous tests to hold cherries abnormally prolonged fruit life, resulting in greater insect survival that would occur in nature. Codling moth survival was the same when either California or Washington cherries were used. Finally, cherries were not preferred more by the walnut strain codling moth, a wild type, than by laboratory reared insects.

Technical Abstract: Laboratory methods have been developed to rear the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on sweet cherries, Prunus avium (L.), to better understand host susceptibility relationships. The status of cherry as a true host for codling moth has been debated because of the limited survival of the pest. Studies were conducted to determine potential factors that may influence rearing success of codling moth in cherry. Postharvest age of cherry was found not to significantly effect codling moth survival. The type of container holding codling moth infested fruits severely alters insect survival; although a closed container promotes fungal disease, the enclosed fruit retains more integrity than it would in a more ventilated container, which results in a higher survival rate for the codling moth. California cherries seem to be no more susceptible to codling moth attack than cherries from the Pacific Northwest. The walnut strain codling moth is no more invasive than the laboratory strain used in previous studies.