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Molecular advances facilitate fruit export by improving rapid pest diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and advanced sequencing technology. Improved pest detection provides timely certification of the quarantine pest-free status in the commodity being exported, avoiding unnecessary commodity treatment. The U.S.–Japan Systems Approach to export fresh cherries from the Western United States that targets the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is used as an example. Suspect codling moth larvae interdicted at cherry packing houses are distinguished by PCR from other internal fruit moth larvae such as the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae); lesser appleworm, G. prunivora (Walsh) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae); cherry fruitworm, G. packardi (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae); and filbertworm, Cydia latiferreana (Walsingham) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Identification is confirmed by sequencing the amplicon of a 301 bp region of the COI gene produced by PCR of the DNA from a suspect moth and comparing this sequence of COI gene sequences of other internal fruit feeders of pome fruit. This sequence comparison results in unambiguous pest identification. These findings are discussed in the context of systems approach research to meet evolving needs of phytosanitary requirements for global export of fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tolerance of terrestrial insects in temperate regions to water immersion and hypoxia has rarely been studied but can be an important adaptation to moist environments, with implications for insect dispersal through waterways. In the Pacific Northwest of the United States, apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera:Tephritidae), can be found in riparian habitats subject to flooding. Here, survival of R. pomonella larvae and different age puparia after flotation or immersion in 13.3°C or 21.1°C water for 1–12 d was determined. Larvae sank in water and when submerged for 1 or 2 d suffered greater mortality than control larvae. Fewer young (1–2 d old) than older puparia (13–15 d old) floated in water. When immersed in water for 1–12 d, young puparia suffered greater mortality than older puparia, which were not affected by water immersion. Consequently, fewer adult flies eclosed from puparia that had been water treated when young than older. Adult flies from pre-chill and post-chill puparia that had been water treated eclosed later than control flies, but treatment flies survived about 60 d and reproduced. Although newly-formed puparia are susceptible to hypoxic water conditions, increased buoyancy and water tolerance occur rapidly after formation, perhaps making survival possible and allowing water-borne dispersal of older puparia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight species of Nearctic Eucosmini previously considered to be of uncertain generic assignment are reviewed and illustrated. The following new or revised combinations are proposed: Pelochrista aspidana (Walsingham), comb.n.; Eucosma delphinoides (Heinrich), comb.n.; Eucosma delphinus (Heinrich), comb.n.; Pelochrista excerptionana (Heinrich), comb.n.; Pelochrista fuscana (Kearfott), comb.n. and new synonymy with Pelochrista nandana (Kearfott); Eucosma sublapidana (Walsingham), comb.rev. Eucosma apriliana (Grote) and Eucosma gomonana Kearfott retain their former generic placements. Eucosma baggetti, a new species similar to Eucosma gomonana Kearfott, is described from southeastern United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the broad-spectrum insecticides resistance which was discovered for codling moth. It discusses that the resistance to azinphosmethyl, methoxyfenozide and lambda-cyhalothrin was related with reduced residual action in the field. It infers that the codling moth is one of the primary pests in the world. It is also inferred that the broad-spectrum resistance introduces serious problems for management of the codling moth in Michigan. In addition, apple plots were dealt with marked field rate doses of four insecticides.

Codling moth, Cydia pomonelia (L.), is the major pest of apple (Mains spp.) in the western United States and many other regions of the world. The codling moth granulovirus (CpGV) provides a selective and safe means of its control. We assessed the long-term stability and storage potential of two commercial formulations of CpGV, Cyd-X, and Virosoft. All assays were performed with individual C. pomonella neonate larvae in 2-ml vials on 1 ml of artificial larval diet that was surface inoculated with 10 µl of the test virus suspension. Baseline quantitative assays for the two formulations revealed that the LC50 and LC95 values (occlusion bodies per vial) did not differ significantly between the formulations. For year-long studies on Cyd-X stability, the product was stored at -20, 2, 25, and 35°C, and quantitative bioassays were conducted after 0, 3, 6, and 12 mo of storage. Cyd-X retained good larvicidal activity from -20 to 25°C, and it was the least negatively affected at the lowest temperature. Storage of Cyd-X at 35°C was detrimental to its larvicidal activity within 3 mo of storage. For longer term storage studies, Cyd-X and Virosoft formulations were stored at 2, 25, and 35°C, and assayed for larvicidal activity over a 3-yr period. For recently produced product, a 10-µl sample of a 10-5 dilution of both formulations resulted in 95-100% mortality in neonate larvae. Larvicidal activity for the Cyd-X formulation remained essentially unaffected for 156 wk when stored at 2 and 25°C, but it began to decline significantly after 20 wk of storage at 35°C. The Virosoft formulation stored at 2°C also remained active throughout the 3-yr study, but it began to decline in larvicidal activity after 144 wk at 25°C and 40 wk at 35°C. The information reported in this study should be useful to growers and commercial suppliers for avoiding decreases in CpGV potency due to improper storage conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the trade impact of Japan's decision in 2005 to revise its phytosanitary protocol for fire blight for U.S. apple imports but retain its codling moth protocol. The analysis presents a participation model to measure the economic costs of phytosanitary barriers to trade. The model provides an explicit cost of the phytosanitary barriers in terms of the structure of the protocols, an important advantage over the price-wedge methodology. This makes it possible to separate the economic costs of various protocols—in this case, the fire blight and codling moth protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), and oriental fruit moth, Crapholita molesta (Busck), are serious pests of apples (Mains spp.) grown in the United States and other countries. In countries where these species are not found, there are strict quarantine restrictions in place to prevent their accidental introduction. The treatment used in this study consisted of hot, forced, moist air with a linear heating rate of 12°C/h to a final chamber temperature of 46°C under a 1% oxygen and 15% carbon dioxide environment. We found that the fourth instar of both species was the most tolerant to the treatment, with equal tolerance between the species. Efficacy tests against the fourth instar of both oriental fruit moth and codling moth by using a commercial controlled atmosphere temperature treatment system chamber resulted in >5,000 individuals of each species being controlled using the combination treatment. Confirmation tests against codling moth resulted in mortality of >30,000 fourth instars. These treatments may be used to meet quarantine restrictions for organic apples where fumigation with methyl bromide is not desirable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) has become a pest of tree fruits since its introduction to the United States in the early twentieth century. Oriental fruit moth has historically been a major pest problem in peach production, and outbreaks in commercial apple (Malus spp.) orchards in the eastern United States were rare until the late 1990s. Recent outbreaks in Mid-Atlantic apple orchards have lead researchers to investigate host-associated effects on oriental fruit moth biology, behavior, and population dynamics. Studies were designed to assess cultivar level effects in apples on oviposition and larval feeding behavior of oriental fruit moth. In a mixed cultivar apple orchard, total oriental fruit moth oviposition and oviposition site preferences varied between cultivars. These preferences also varied over time, when sampling was repeated at various times of the growing season. Although most adult female oriental fruit moth preferentially oviposited in the calyx and stem areas of apple fruit, noticeable numbers of eggs also were laid on the sides of fruit, contradicting some previous reports. Oriental fruit moth females exhibited a strong ovipositional preference for fruit that were previously damaged by oriental fruit moth or codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.). The majority of newly hatched oriental fruit moth larvae were observed to spend <24 h on the surface of apple fruit before entry, and this behavior was observed on several apple cultivars. Neonate larvae exhibited a preference for entering fruit at either the stem or calyx ends, regardless of their initial site of placement. Our findings underscore the importance of adequate spray coverage and accurate timing of insecticide applications targeting oriental fruit moth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenology of oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck), on apple (Malus spp.) in North Carolina was studied using pheromone traps and egg sampling in abandoned and commercial orchards in 2000 and 2001, with subsequent development of an oviposition degree-day model and management studies in relation to codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), phenology. Oriental fruit moth eggs were found in greater numbers on leaves early and on fruit later in the growing season, on the top versus the bottom of the leaf surface, and on the calyx area versus the side or stem end of the fruit. A degree-day (DD) model to predict oriental fruit moth oviposition was developed based on temperature accumulations from peak moth trap capture of the first (overwintering) generation, by using 7.2 and 32.2°C as the temperature limits. The model predicted four ovipositing generations of oriental fruit moth with the second beginning 507 DD after peak moth catch. Using predictions of the oriental fruit moth and codling moth degree-day oviposition models, an experiment was conducted to determine the level of second generation oriental fruit moth control with methoxyfenozide applied under different scenarios for first generation codling moth. Methoxyfenozide was equally effective in managing codling moth and oriental fruit moth for all treatment timings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the areawide pest-management programs administered by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Overview of the areawide program; Information on the ARS program for the suppression of codling moth in the western U.S.; Objectives of the codling moth suppression program.

Studies were conducted to estimate survival time of commercially produced Trichogramma platneri Nagarkatti (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in a walnut orchard in California. Batches of 23±7 female T. platneri were held in sleeves of dialysis tubing attached to walnut tree branches. Mean time to 50% survivorship of unfed parasitoids was 2.0±0.1 days whereas honey-fed parasitoids lived significantly longer (2.6±0.1 days) than unfed parasitoids. The presence of a leaf within a sleeve also increased mean time to 50% survivorship (2.9±0.2 days), relative to unfed parasitoids. Median survival time was inversely correlated with mean temperature for all treatments. The relationship between degree–day accumulation and survivorship was described using a Weibull function. Survival time in the field was less than expected from comparable laboratory estimates and reasons for these differences are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Focuses on the `Codling Moth Areawide Suppression Program,' a codling moth control program in the Northwest United States aimed to suppress the pests wide growing areas so that fruit growers can remain competitive. Statement of Carol O. Calkins, an Agricultural Research Service (ARS) entomologist that the program works; How the program control the moth; Information about the sites and acreage added to the program.

The article focuses on the potential of fungus Muscodor albus as biobased fumigant for crop pests through its volatile organic compounds (VOC) based on studies by U.S. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists Joseph L. Smilanick, Lawrence A. Lacey and Blair J. Goates. Goates and former AgraQuest colleague Julien Mercier found that Muscodor kills Tilletia fungi that causes bunt diseases in wheat. A test in Wapato, Oregon revealed that Mucador kills potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella. It also killed 100% of apple pest Cydia pomonella.

The article focuses on the management of codling moths in backyard trees. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), alternative techniques for dealing with codling moth have been widely accepted by farmers and have reduced orchard pesticide use. Non-chemical techniques are also available for home gardeners including trapping techniques, bagging techniques and tiny wasps and a virus that kill the moths. It is important to identify codling moths and understand their lifecycle in order to manage them. The national sustainable agricultural information center of the USDA recommends the use black light traps.

Focuses on the Codling Moth Areawide Suppression Program started by the United States Agricultural Research Service in 1994. Techniques developed for controlling the pest to reduce pesticide usage; Key to the success of the project; Goal of the mating disruption and releasing sterile male moths techniques.

Season-long field studies were conducted in Washington apple orchards that compared the following: (1) twice per week releases of partially sterile codling moths, Cydia pomonella (L.), treated with either 100 or 250 Gy, and (2) combinations of mating disruption plus the release of partially sterile (100 Gy) codling moths, to control wild codling moth populations. No significant differences in the level of fruit damage at either midseason or harvest were found between any of thetreatments, or between the treatments and the inside controls. Damage in all plots was <0.1%. In both studies, trap data suggest that themovement of the 100 Gy-treated moths into the other treatments and the inside controls may have masked treatment effects. However, fruit damage was significantly lower in all treatment plots when compared with control plots located outside of the treatment areas. Results indicated that the release of partially sterile male (and fully sterile female) codling moths does not result in increased fruit injury and that the lower dose of radiation used to partially sterilize males results in insects that are more active, disperse greater distances and are generally more competitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interviews Carol O. Calkins, Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) coordinator of the Codling Moth Areawide Suppression Program in the Western United States about the codling moth program. Definition of areawide insect suppression; How large are these areawide units; Other areawide ARS programs under way or in the planning stages; Reasons why there is such interest in the program; Methods and technology being use to suppress codling moths.