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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #182809
Title: AREA-WIDE CONTROL TACTICS FOR THE FALSE CODLING MOTH THAUMATOTIBIA LEUCOTRETA IN SOUTH AFRICA: A POTENTIAL INVASIVE SPECIES

Author
item Carpenter, James
item BLOEM, S - RALEIGH, NC
item HOFMEYR, H - CRI/CITRUSDAL,S. AFRICA

Submitted to: Area-Wide Control of Insect Pests: From Research to Field Implementation
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/28/2006
Publication Date: 10/30/2007
Citation: Carpenter, J.E., Bloem, S., Hofmeyr, H. 2007. Area-wide control tactics for the false codling moth Thaumatotibia leucotreta in South Africa: a potential invasive species. In: Vreysen, M.J.B., Robinson, A.S., Hendrichs, J., editors. Area-Wide Control of Insect Pests from Research to Field Implementation. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer. p. 351-359.

Interpretive Summary: The False Codling Moth (FCM) is a key pest of citrus, stone fruit, and other crops in many countries throughout continental Africa, including South Africa. There is a growing awareness that this damaging pest could soon be introduced into other countries including the United States as a direct result of increased international trade and daily direct flights from African countries. South Africa currently employs a combination of cultural, chemical, microbial and augmentative biological control to suppress FCM. However, additional control tactics are needed for effective FCM control. We are developing the sterile insect technique (SIT) as a strategy for FCM suppression in South Africa and as a tactic that could be rapidly deployed if FCM were to become established as an exotic invasive pest in other countries such as the United States. The SIT is regarded as a host-specific and environmentally friendly pest control tactic that is compatible with the application of augmentative biological control. The development and combination of these off-shore integrated pest management strategies in South Africa will develop and/or enhance scientific expertise and infrastructure in that country, reduce wild populations of FCM, and lower the risk that this pest will be introduced into countries currently free of this pest. In addition, the development of these control tactics and the improved infrastructure (e.g., rearing/irradiation facilities in South Africa) will provide resources, technology, and strategies for eradicating the FCM should this pest be introduced into new geographical areas.

Technical Abstract: The False Codling Moth (FCM), Cryptophlebia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a key pest of citrus, stone fruit, and other crops in many countries throughout continental Africa, including South Africa. There is a growing awareness that this damaging pest could soon be introduced into other countries including the United States as a direct result of increased international trade and daily direct flights from African countries. FCM features prominently in the "Worst of the Worst" Exotic Pest Arthropod List of likely invasive species prepared for the United States Department of Agriculture by the Entomological Society of America. South Africa currently employs a combination of cultural, chemical, microbial and augmentative biological control to suppress FCM. Augmentative biological control makes use of the egg parasitoid Trichogrammatoidea cryptophlebiae Nagaraja (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). However, this program is not adequate as a stand-alone tactic for effective FCM control. We are in the process of developing the sterile insect technique (SIT) as a strategy for FCM suppression in South Africa and as a tactic that could be rapidly deployed if FCM were to become established as an exotic invasive pest in other countries such as the United States. The SIT is regarded as a host-specific and environmentally friendly pest control tactic that is compatible with the application of augmentative biological control. However, fully successful integration of the SIT and parasitoid releases into an effective pest management approach can occur only if the parasitoids do not negatively impact irradiated insects and their progeny more severely than they affect the wild pest population, and if the release of irradiated insects does not negatively impact the efficacy of the parasitoids. Therefore, knowledge of the compatibility of T. cryptophlebiae and the release of irradiated FCM is crucial to the evaluation of the combined use of these tactics. The development and combination of these off-shore integrated pest management strategies in South Africa will develop and/or enhance scientific expertise and infrastructure in that country, reduce wild populations of FCM, and lower the risk that this pest will be introduced into countries currently free of this pest. In addition, the development of these control tactics and the improved infrastructure (e.g., rearing/irradiation facilities in South Africa) will provide resources, technology, and strategies for eradicating the FCM should this pest be introduced into new geographical areas.