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This study investigates the Lepidoptera order representatives among the pests present in apple and plum orchards in the central and northern part of the Bistrita region. This study aimed to find out which ones of the Lepidoptera pests are present in the area and what is their population density. By field trapping of moths and leaf miners, in 2021 we are presenting an up-to-date situation of the main damaging species from the Lepidoptera order. Pheromone traps with attractants for seven species were placed in four locations in apple and plum orchards. The monitored species were: Cydia pomonella, Hedya nubiferana, Spilonota ocellana, Phyllonorycter blancardella, and Leucoptera scitella in the apple orchards. In plum orchards, we placed lures for Cydia funebrana and Grapholita molesta. Our data confirm some of the previous known facts about the flight patterns of Cydia pomonella, Phyllonorycter blancardella, Leucoptera scitella, Cydia funebrana and Grapholita molesta but show a longer flight period. Defoliators such as Hedya nubiferana and Spilonota ocellana are also present and could become a threat in the next years.

In adult Lepidoptera the labial palps are best known for their role in CO2 detection, but they can also bear sensilla chaetica which function is unknown. The number and distribution of sensilla chaetica in labial palps was studied using a bright field microscope. To determine if these sensilla have a gustatory function, we performed single sensillum electrophysiology recordings from palp and antennal sensilla of adult moths of Cydia pomonella (L.), Grapholita molesta (Busck) and Lobesia botrana (Denis and Shieffermüller). Each sensillum was stimulated with 3 doses of one of four test stimulus (sucrose, fructose, KCl and NaCl). Overall, responses (spikes/s−1) increased with dose, and were higher in the palps than in the antennae, and higher to sugars than to salts. With sugars the response increased with concentration in the palp but not in the antenna. With salts there was a drop in response at the intermediate concentration. The number and position of sensilla chaetica on labial palps was variable among individuals. Sensilla were located in the most exposed areas of the palp. Differences in sensilla distribution were detected between species. Such differences among species and between palps and antenna suggest that taste sensilla on the palps have an unforeseen role in adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State Germany and co‐rapporteur Member State the Netherlands for the pesticide active substance Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV) and the considerations as regards the inclusion of the substance in Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012, as amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2018/1659. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of CpGV as an insecticide on pome fruit (apple, pear, quince, nashi pears, medlars), stone fruit (peach, apricot, nectarine, almond, plum trees), walnut trees (field foliar spray applications, professional and non‐professional uses). The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment are presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asian ladybeetle Harmonia axyridis Pallas is an invasive species commonly found in Canadian apple orchards. It threatens native ladybeetles through exploitative competition and intraguild predation (IGP), including the 12 spotted ladybeetle Coleomegilla maculata DeGeer (Gagnon, Heimpel and Brodeur, 2011). Both species are exposed to novaluron, a reduced risk insecticide used against the codling moth Cydia pomonella (L.), the primary pest in apple orchards. Previous research showed that novaluron is highly toxic for the invasive H. axyridis, but it is less toxic for the indigenous C. maculata. Novaluron reduces the adaptive value of IGP for H. axyridis but not for C. maculata. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the combined effect of novaluron and IGP outside laboratory conditions. This study explores under semi‐field conditions the effect of novaluron residues and IGP on the survival of H. axyridis and C. maculata larvae. IGP was assessed considering third instar larvae as predators. Results showed that novaluron was toxic for first instar larvae of both species after 10 days of exposure. When H. axyridis was the intraguild predator, novaluron increased the survival of the intraguild preys. Novaluron did not change the outcome of the IGP when C. maculata was the intraguild predator. These results indicate that novaluron can change the competition outcome between the invasive H. axyridis and a native ladybeetle species. This is the first demonstration that intraguild predation and competition may be greatly altered in the presence of pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Pneumatic spray delivery (PSD)‐based solid set canopy delivery systems (SSCDS) have demonstrated comparable spray deposition and reduced off‐target drift compared with axial‐fan airblast sprayers in high‐density apple orchards. An important next step is to quantify whether PSD‐based SSCDS can provide effective pest management. This study evaluated the biological efficacy of this fixed spray system variant and compared it with that of an axial‐fan airblast sprayer. Partial field trials were conducted in a commercial apple orchard (cv. Jazz) trained in tall spindle architecture. Insecticides were applied at a rate of 935 L ha−1 (100 gallons per acre) for both application systems. Twenty‐four hours after spraying, leaves and fruits were collected to prepare the laboratory bioassays enabling evaluation of efficacy against obliquebanded leafroller (OBLR) and codling moth (CM). RESULTS: OBLR mortality for SSCDS, airblast sprayer and untreated control treatments after 24 h of larval exposure was 91%, 98% and 4%, respectively and increased to 98%, 100% and 19% after 48 h. First‐instar CM leaf bioassay mortality was 100% for SSCDS and airblast sprayer treatment, and 13% for the untreated control at 24 h post exposure. Larval CM mortality on fruit was 100% for SSCDS and airblast sprayer treatments, and 33% on the untreated control. CONCLUSIONS: Insecticides applied using SSCDS and an airblast sprayer had comparable larval mortality in all three assays, significantly higher than the untreated controls. These results suggest that PSD‐based SSCDS may provide a viable alternative to axial‐fan airblast sprayers in high‐density apple orchards. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a major phytosanitary pest of citrus in South Africa. Although several management tools exist, control options registered for use against the soil-dwelling life stages are limited. Both entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) and entomopathogenic fungi have been investigated previously, but they have not been studied in combination against T. leucotreta. Thus, this study investigated the interaction of an indigenous entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium pinghaense (previously anisopliae) FCM Ar 23 B3 with three indigenous EPNs: Steinernema yirgalemense 157-C, S. jeffreyense J194 and Heterorhabditis noenieputensis 158-C for increased late instar T. leucotreta larval mortality. Before interaction experiments, lethal concentration (LC) values for each of these microbial agents were determined through dose–response bioassays. Heterorhabditis noenieputensis recorded the highest LC50 amongst the nematodes (7.11 IJs/50 µl). Using the pre-determined LC70 value of M. pinghaense and the LC50 values for each of the nematode species, interaction experiments were conducted. Combinations of the nematodes either applied simultaneously with the fungus or at 24, 48, 72 or 96 h post-fungal application showed predominantly additive interactions. Synergy between the simultaneous application of S. yirgalemense and M. pinghaense was found, whilst the interaction between H. noenieputensis and M. pinghaense applied simultaneously and S. jeffreyense applied 24 h post-fungal application, recorded antagonistic interactions. The use of these agents in combination may therefore have the potential to increase control of T. leucotreta soil-dwelling life stages in citrus orchards across South Africa and should be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential for immigration of female codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), to affect the efficacy of control by mating disruption was simulated by incorporating different rates of disruption and immigration into previously published life tables for a univoltine codling moth population on unsprayed apple trees in Nelson, New Zealand. Eight-year simulations were conducted using an initial codling moth density of 1.22 adults per tree at 330 trees per ha, as in the original life tables. Life table simulations without mating disruption served as controls for comparison with simulations that included various rates of disruption, and then various rates of immigration by virgin or mated female moths into trees subjected to 85% or 98% disruption. Model outputs were evaluated principally in relation to a nominal low export tolerance of fresh codling moth damage on harvested fruit of one per million. The simulations suggested that 85% disruption reduced the codling moth population too slowly for such export production, and that this rate of disruption was highly susceptible to immigration of virgin or mated female moths. Mating disruption of 98% provided rapid reduction of codling moth to extremely low population density, even in the presence of virgin female immigration up to ∼30 females per ha. However, although this efficacy should allow export by reducing simulated damage to less than one per million fruit, this was undermined by immigration of mated females as low as ∼0.7 per ha, or one per ∼3500 trees, in modern high-density orchards at 2400 trees per ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Intercropping apple trees with aromatic plants is a way to attract natural enemies and strengthen biological control services. However, the effects of aromatic plants are still unclear under field conditions. Here, we studied the potential of two aromatic plant species to promote codling moth natural enemies in a full factorial experiment. Ocimum basilicum increases codling moth parasitism. Tagetes patula has a general negative effect on both the codling moth and its natural enemies. We do not find a reduction in codling moth density or damaged apples on trees associated with aromatic plants. The addition of flowering companion plants within or around crop fields is a promising strategy to strengthen pest regulation by their natural enemies. Aromatic plants are frequently used as companion plants, but their effects on natural enemies remain unclear under field conditions. Here, we evaluated the effects of two aromatic plant species on the parasitism of the codling moth (Cydia pomonella) and the recruitment of predatory arthropods (spiders, earwigs) in a factorial field experiment. Apple trees were intercropped with basil (Ocimum basilicum), French marigolds (Tagetes patula), or ryegrass (Lolium perenne). The association between apple trees and O. basilicum increases codling moth parasitism, but does not affect arthropod predator abundances. Furthermore, we find a general negative effect of T. patula on arthropod diversities and abundances, including the pest and its natural enemies. Finally, changes in the parasitism rate and arthropod community structure due to the aromatic plants do not reduce codling moth density or associated apple damage. Further experiments are needed to determine the mechanisms involved in aromatic plant effects on pest repellence and on natural enemy recruitment (volatile organic compound composition, floral resource supply, or pest density dependence). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: False codling moth is a polyphagous pest that could be introduced and establish in Australia. This moth may threaten many commercial horticultural and agricultural production crops in Australia by damaging a wide range of agricultural crops including avocados, guavas, peaches, citrus, grapes, cotton, roses and some solanaceous crops. Since false codling moth has caused considerable financial loss to rose growers through damage to agricultural crops and horticultural products as well as the costs associated with its control and eradication in some African countries, it is prudent to predict likely establishment regions in Australia. The predictions were generated using a Species Distribution Model named Maxent. Results not only considered the climatic suitability but also overlaid the prediction maps with presence of susceptible hosts. The predictions indicated a range of near-ocean regions across Australia that were potentially suitable habitats. These results provided preliminary insight into the potential for false coding moth to establish in Australia. This research is valuable as the economic impact of this pest could be serious, with prediction and early detection key to preventing the establishment and spread of false codling moth across Australia. Kenya and some other African countries are threatened by a serious pest Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), the false codling moth. The detection of T. leucotreta is quite difficult due to the cryptic nature of the larvae during transportation and is therefore a concern for Australia. This insect is a known pest of agriculturally important crops. Here, Maxent was used to assess the biosecurity threat of T. leucotreta to Australia. Habitat suitability and risk assessment of T. leucotreta in Australia were identified based on threatened areas under suitable climatic conditions and the presence of hosts in a given habitat. Modeling indicated that Australia is vulnerable to invasion and establishment by T. leucotreta in some states and territories, particularly areas of western and southern Australia. Within these locations, the risk is associated with specific cropping areas. As such, invasion and establishment by T. leucotreta may have serious implications for Australia's agricultural and horticultural industries e.g., the fruit and vegetable industries. This study will be used to inform the government and industry of the threat posed by T. leucotreta imported via the cut flower industry. Targeted preventative measures and trade policy could be introduced to protect Australia from invasion by this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The codling moth (Cydia pomonella) is probably the most harmful pest in apple and pear orchards. The crop loss due to the high harmfulness of the insect can be extremely expensive; therefore, sophisticated pest management is necessary to protect the crop. The conventional monitoring approach for insect swarming has been based on traps that are periodically checked by human operators. However, this workflow can be automatized. To achieve this goal, a dedicated image capture device and an accurate insect counter algorithm are necessary which make online insect swarm prediction possible. From the hardware side, more camera-equipped embedded systems have been designed to remotely capture and upload pest trap images. From the software side, with the aid of machine vision and machine learning methods, traditional (manual) identification and counting can be solved by algorithm. With the appropriate combination of the hardware and software components, spraying can be accurately scheduled, and the crop-defending cost will be significantly reduced. Although automatic traps have been developed for more pest species and there are a large number of papers which investigate insect detection, a limited number of articles focus on the C. pomonella. The aim of this paper is to review the state of the art of C. pomonella monitoring with camera-equipped traps. The paper presents the advantages and disadvantages of automated traps' hardware and software components and examines their practical applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The developmental time, adult longevity, survival, and fecundity of Ascogaster quadridentata reared on Cydia pomonella were studied at 25 ± 2 ºC and natural lighting. Longevity was measured in different conditions: water; water and honey; and water, honey and host. Developmental time from egg to adult was 43.67 ± 0.75 days. Honey had a significant effect on the longevity of female adults. The longevity of females with water was 3 days, whereas females fed with honey had longevity values greater than 6 days. The survival curves of adults fed with honey and adults starved were different. All males with water died before 5 days; while in honey-fed males, the last adult died on days 16 and 22, with and without a host, respectively. The female began ovipositing eggs during the first days following emergence. A female produced on average, 22.3 ± 4.7 eggs/day, and more than 10% of host eggs were superparasitized. The parasitism rate was on average 17.53 ± 2.88 hosts/day, whereas the total mean parasitism was 202.75 ± 59.24 hosts/female. This study addressed new basic biological information about A. quadridentata and contribute to a better understanding of its potential as a biological control agent of codling moth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A preliminary chemical analysis of the OLFE extract did not detect any of the four known pheromone components or precursors, but further study is needed to understand the interaction between the pheromone and the kairomone attractants. In several species, host volatiles mediate male attraction to mating sites in advance of female emissions of sex pheromones or can synergistically increase the attraction of males when they co-occur with the pheromones [[38], [40], [42]]. When tests 1 and 2 were pulled together, no significant differences were noticeable between the concentrated kairomone and the pheromone lures, while the kairomone lure attracted more than the unbaited traps (H SB 3,60 sb = 24.748; I p i = 0.000) (Figure 3). Keywords: cocoa pod borer; Conopomorpha cramerella; kairomone; pheromone; lure development; monitoring tool EN cocoa pod borer Conopomorpha cramerella kairomone pheromone lure development monitoring tool N.PAG N.PAG 11 09/27/22 20220901 NES 220901 1. [Extracted from the article]

Female antennae processed a higher abundance of sensilla than male antennae, which supports specific sexual behavior of females of I G. mellonella i [[23]]. Keywords: Tirathaba rufivena; sensilla structure; sexual dimorphism; scanning electron microscopy; transmission electron microscopy EN Tirathaba rufivena sensilla structure sexual dimorphism scanning electron microscopy transmission electron microscopy N.PAG N.PAG 17 09/27/22 20220901 NES 220901 1. The antennae of neopseustid moths: Morphology and phylogenetic implications, with special reference to the sensilla (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Neopseustidae). 10.1002/jemt.20038 22 Ma M., Chang M.M., Lu Y., Lei C.L., Yang F.L. Ultrastructure of sensilla of antennae and ovipositor of Sitotroga cerealella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), and location of female sex pheromone gland. Both the male and female antennae of I T. rufivena i were found to have Ssq, which are commonly present in lepidopteran insects [[69]]. [Extracted from the article]

The current study was carried out in 2018-2019 at good agricultural practices of walnut orchards to control mass-trapping and determination of damage rates of codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Hatay province of Turkey. The study was conducted at 312.43 decares good agricultural practices of walnut orchards containing 3,928 Chandler varieties tree, located at the Kışlak village of the Yayladağ district of Hatay province. Delta traps with codling moth pheromones were used. Traps were hung 1.5 m high; pheromone capsules were replaced with new ones in every forty days. In the first year, a total of 235 codling moth adults were caught by the 50 delta traps during the sampling period. The average population density of adults caught by traps was determined to be 4.61. In the second year, a total of 70 codling moth adults were caught by the 50 delta traps during the sampling period. The average population density of adults caught by traps was determined to be 1.4. In the first year, a total of 38,400 walnut fruits were harvested and 100 walnut fruit was harmed by the codling moth larvae. Thus, the damage rates of the codling moth were estimated as 0.26 percent. In the second year, a total of 443,100 walnut fruits were harvested and 9,065 walnut fruit was harmed by the codling moth larvae. Thus, the damage rates of the codling moth were estimated as 2.04 percent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanogold or functionalized gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have myriad applications in medical sciences. GNPs are widely used in the area of nanodiagnostics and nanotherapeutics. Applications of GNPs in taxonomic studies have not been studied vis-à-vis its extensive medical applications. GNPs have great potential in the area of integrative taxonomy. We have realized that GNPs can be used to visually detect animal species based on molecular signatures. In this regard, we have synthesized gold nanoparticles (<20 nm) and have developed a method based on interactions between thiolated DNA oligonucleotides and small-sized GNPs, interactions between DNA oligonucleotides and target DNA molecules, and self-aggregating properties of small-sized GNPs under high salt concentrations leading to a visible change in colour. Exploiting these intermolecular and interparticle interactions under aqueous conditions, in the present work, we have demonstrated the application of our procedure by using a DNA oligonucleotide probe designed against a portion of the mitochondrial genome of the codling moth Cydia pomonella. This method is accurate, quick, and easy to use once devised and can be used as an additional tool along with DNA barcoding. This tool can be used for distinguishing cryptic species, identification of morphovariants of known species, diet analysis, and identification of pest species in quarantine facilities without any need of performing repetitive DNA sequencing. We suggest that designing and selecting a highly specific DNA probe is crucial in increasing the specificity of the procedure. Present work may be considered as an effort to introduce nanotechnology as a new discipline to the extensive field of integrative taxonomy with which disciplines like palaeontology, embryology, anatomy, ethology, ecology, biochemistry, and molecular biology are already associated for a long time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a significant pest of pome fruit and walnut orchards worldwide and it is a particular problem in Bulgaria. Codling moth resistance to many insecticides has been recently detected in Bulgaria. Codling moth (CM) mating disruption with Ginko® dispensers was evaluated in four successive years from 2019 to 2022 as part of an anti-resistance strategy. In an isolated 3 ha apple orchard in the Plovdiv district of South-Central Bulgaria, close to the town of Perushtitsa, field tests were conducted for the control of the codling moth (CM), C. pomonella, via mating disruption (MD) using pheromone Ginko® dispensers. The pheromone dispensers were hung in the upper third of tree canopies with a density of 500 dispensers/ha before CM flight started. Dynamics of CM flights was monitored by pheromone traps installed in the trial plot and in a conventionally treated reference orchard. Two types of baits were used in the traps: PHEROCON® CM L2-codlemone lures and PHEROCON® CM DA COMBO-P + AA lures (Trécé Inc., USA) in the orchards for mating disruption. The PHEROCON® CM L2 lures were changed at 4-week intervals and PHEROCON® CM DA COMBO-P + AA lures at 8-week intervals. PHEROCON® VI Delta sticky traps baited with PHEROCON CM DA COMBO-P + AA lures and standard CM L2 caps were installed, for comparison, in a reference orchard located in the Plovdiv region. Fruit infestation was periodically assessed till the harvest time. In both years fruit damage remained lower till late July and increased slightly only in August. At harvest, fruit damage remained below 1%. It was obvious that mating disruption could be useful strategy for the control of codling moth in Bulgarian apple orchards, specifically when the plot is isolated from external sources of infestation and the population density of the pest is low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a new population‐scale model incorporating diapause induction and termination that allows multi‐year predictions of pest dynamics. In addition to predicting phenology and voltinism, the model also allows us to study the degree of overlapping among the life‐stages across time; a quantity not generally predicted by previous models yet a key determinant of how frequently management must be done to maintain control. The model is a physiological, stage‐structured population model that includes temperature‐dependent vital rates, diapause processes, and plasticity in development. The model is statistically fitted with a 33‐year long weekly term time series of Cydia pomonella adults captured in pheromone‐baited traps from a research orchard in southern Pennsylvania. The multiannual model allows investigation of both within season control strategies, as well as the likely consequences of climate change for this important agricultural pest. The model predicts that warming temperatures will cause earlier spring emergence, additional generations, and increased overall abundance. Most importantly, by calculating the circular variance, we find that warmer temperatures are associated with an increase in overlap among life‐stages especially at the beginning of the growing season. Our findings highlight the importance of modeling diapause to fully understand C. pomonella lifecycle and to better inform management for effectively controlling this pest in a warmer future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential for immigrant adult codling moths, Cydia pomonella (L.), to reduce the efficacy of the granulovirus (CpGV) against a univoltine population was investigated using published life tables for codling moth on apple trees in Nelson, New Zealand. Simulated life tables over eight generations incorporated mortality >90% from CpGV sprays and combined this with immigration rates ranging from 0 to 1 adult per tree. Without immigration, there were 5 damaged fruits per million by the eighth generation from an initial population of 1.22 adults per tree but only 9 per 100 million had fresh damage or larvae that could trigger phytosanitary rejection. Higher-yielding modern orchards reduced this fresh damage to 5 per 100 million harvested fruit. New Zealand exports apples to markets with zero tolerance of codling moth (Codling Moth Sensitive Markets [CMSM] programme), and immigration of 1 female per 100 trees was projected to pose a risk of failure to meet quarantine requirements with one freshly damaged fruit per 112,000, or per 202,000 in a modern high-density orchard. This confirms the wisdom of using an integrated suite of control methods in CMSM, of which CpGV is only one. Similarly, immigration of one female per 1000 trees or 3 ha had much lower risk but could also threaten exporting if reliance was placed solely on CpGV, with one fresh damage or larva per 2 million harvested fruit. A commitment to the removal of neglected host trees of codling moth in the environs of orchards is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Codling moth (CM), Cydia pomonella L., is an important pest of apples worldwide. CM resistance to insecticides is a serious problem in apple production. For effective management and control, monitoring of resistant CM populations is absolutely necessary. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether it is possible to find a reliable pattern of differences in CM populations related to the type of apple control method. The genetic results showed low estimated value of the pairwise fixation index, FST = 0.021, which indicates a lack of genetic differentiation and structuring between the genotyped populations. Different approaches were used to analyze the genetic structure of codling moth populations: Bayesian-based model of population structure (STRUCTURE), principal component analysis (PCA), and discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC). STRUCTURE grouped the CM genotypes into two distinct clusters, and the results of PCA were consistent with this. The DAPC revealed three distinct groups. However, the results showed that population genetic differentiation between organic and integrated orchards was not significant. To confirm the genetic results, the forewing morphology of the same CM individuals was examined using geometric morphometric techniques based on the venation patterns of 18 landmarks. The geometric results showed higher sensitivity and separated three distinct groups. Geometric morphometrics was shown to be a more sensitive method to detect variability in genotypes due to pest control management. This study shows the possibility of using a novel method for a strategic integrated pest management (IPM) program for CM that is lacking in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Different isolates of Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV) have been formulated into different biological control agents that are applied to reduce the infestation and losses induced by codling moth in organic and integrated apple and pear orchards. Cyd-X® is the most widely applied CpGV product in apple orchards in the USA and contains a single active ingredient, the isolate CpGV-M (GV-0001). Aiming to investigate the susceptibility of codling moth to GV-0001, we used a discriminating virus concentration to screen five codling moth populations derived from Washington State (USA), which were reared in the laboratory (colony WA1-WA5). The results indicate that colony WA3 had a significantly reduced susceptibility to GV-0001 and survivors from the bioassay can produce offspring. WA3 represents the first documented case of CpGV resistance in the USA. In further tests, WA3 showed resistance to all commercial CpGV agents currently registered in the USA. Nonetheless, the resistant WA3 colony showed high susceptibility to three newly developed CpGV preparations. Therefore, the introduction of the novel CpGV formulations may allow the maintenance of sustainable management programs for codling moth in the USA. Codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.) is a very important pest in apple, pear, and walnut orchards worldwide, including the USA. Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV) is used to control codling moth in organic and conventional production. Due to increasing codling moth infestations from organic apple orchards in Washington State, USA, five codling moth colonies (WA1-WA5) were screened for their susceptibility relative to the isolate GV-0001, the main active ingredient of Cyd-X®, using a discriminating concentration of 6 × 104 OB/mL. Compared to a susceptible laboratory colony, the observed results indicated that GV-0001 lacked efficacy against codling moth colony WA3. It was confirmed that WA3 was the first case of codling moth resistance to CpGV in the USA. Further testing of WA3 was performed on a range of CpGV isolates and a lack of efficacy was observed against additional isolates. However, three newly developed CpGV preparations can efficiently infect larvae from the resistant colony WA3. Our results suggest that there is an urgent need to monitor the situation in the USA, aiming to prevent the emergence or spread of additional codling moth populations with CpGV resistance. Strategies to sustain the efficacy of codling moth control using novel CpGV formulations need to be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of quince (Cydonia oblonga Miller) is affected worldwide by codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.), an oligophagous pest. In this study, volatile compounds in healthy and infested fruits were collected from four cultivars of quince: Champion, Portugal, Smyrna and INTA 147. Volatiles were extracted by SPME and analyzed by GC-MS. Up to 30 compounds were identified in the volatile profiles of uninfested quinces, ranging from 90.9% to 98.4% of the total relative abundance. The volatile profile of all four cultivars of quince was similar, with (E , E)-α-farnesene and octanoic acid- ethyl ester as the main components. Infested fruits presented increased levels of (E , E)-α-farnesene, while minor compounds decreased significantly. Champion and Smyrna varieties might be more susceptible cultivars to infestation as their healthy fruits presented the highest contents of (E , E)-α-farnesene and Pear Ester, both codling moth kairomones. The role of these highly recognized kairomones in the chemical ecology of codling moth in quince is discussed. [Display omitted] • The main component in all quince cultivars was (E,E)-α-Farnesene. • Quantitative variations were detected in the volatile profile of damaged fruits. • The levels of (E,E)-α-Farnesene were higher in infested fruits. • Smyrna and Champion quinces were the cultivars with highest contents of Pear ester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apple is one of the most important economic fruit crops in the world. Despite all the strategies of integrated pest management (IPM), insecticides are still frequently used in its cultivation. In addition, pest phenology is extremely influenced by changing climatic conditions. The frequent spread of invasive species, unexpected pest outbreaks, and the development of additional generations are some of the problems posed by climate change. The adopted strategies of IPM therefore need to be changed as do the current monitoring techniques, which are increasingly unreliable and outdated. The need for more sophisticated, accurate, and efficient monitoring techniques is leading to increasing development of automated pest monitoring systems. In this paper, we summarize the automatic methods (image analysis systems, smart traps, sensors, decision support systems, etc.) used to monitor the major pest in apple production (Cydia pomonella L.) and other important apple pests (Leucoptera maifoliella Costa, Grapholita molesta Busck, Halyomorpha halys Stål, and fruit flies—Tephritidae and Drosophilidae) to improve sustainable pest management under frequently changing climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for high-quality apples remains strong throughout the year, as they are one of the top three most popular fruits globally. However, the apple industry faces challenges in monitoring and managing postharvest losses due to invasive pests during long-term storage. In this study, the effect of codling moth (CM) (Cydia pomonella [Linnaeus, 1758]), one of the most detrimental pests of apples, on the quality of the fruit was investigated under different storage conditions. Specifically, Gala apples were evaluated for their qualities such as firmness, pH, moisture content (MC), and soluble solids content (SSC). Near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (HSI) was implemented to build machine learning models for predicting the quality attributes of this apple during a 20-week storage using partial least squares regression (PLSR) and support vector regression (SVR) methods. Data were pre-processed using Savitzky–Golay smoothing filter and standard normal variate (SNV) followed by removing outliers by Monte Carlo sampling method. Functional analysis of variance (FANOVA) was used to interpret the variance in the spectra with respect to the infestation effect. FANOVA results showed that the effects of infestation on the near infrared (NIR) spectra were significant at p < 0.05. Initial results showed that the quality prediction models for the apples during cold storage at three different temperatures (0 °C, 4 °C, and 10 °C) were very high with a maximum correlation coefficient of prediction (Rp) of 0.92 for SSC, 0.95 for firmness, 0.97 for pH, and 0.91 for MC. Furthermore, the competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) method was employed to extract effective wavelengths to develop multispectral models for fast real-time prediction of the quality characteristics of apples. Model analysis showed that the multispectral models had better performance than the corresponding full wavelengths HSI models. The results of this study can help in developing non-destructive monitoring and evaluation systems for apple quality under different storage conditions.

• The study uses DEA and LCA to optimize sheep farming production. • Energy use in sheep farming can be reduced by 9.82% with optimization. • Food production is responsible for 69% of the environmental impact. • Optimization in sheep farming can save 4677.64 MJ of energy. • Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced with optimization strategies. Over the past decades, the global population has significantly increased, resulting in high demand for food. China, the largest sheep-producing country, has experienced 20 rapid expansions in its sheep industry, which has caused environmental consequences. This study proposes an integrated approach that combines data envelopment analysis (DEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) to assess the ecological consequences of the sheep production system. Therefore, this work aims to evaluate the energy consumption of the existing production system and identify optimization opportunities to reduce its environmental impacts. Our results demonstrate that sheep production can decrease total energy consumption by 9.82% using optimization. Food production was reported as a critical factor in environmental impact, responsible for 69%. However, the optimized approach led to a decrease of 4,677.64 MJ in energy consumption in sheep production compared to the initial state. The findings of this study showcase the possibility of decreasing energy usage and lessening greenhouse gas (GHG) discharges in sheep farming by implementing optimization strategies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sterile insect technique (SIT) and augmentative releases of egg parasitoids, Trichogrammatoidea cryptophlebiae have been employed to manage false codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta in South Africa. To enhance FCM control, simultaneous releases of sterile moths and egg parasitoids are conducted. It is, therefore, necessary to determine the compatibility and combined values of these approaches. A laboratory study was conducted to explore the susceptibility of FCM eggs resulting from various pairings of sterile and fertile moths to parasitism by egg parasitoids. The ratios of sterile to fertile FCM used in the study were 0:1, 10:1, 20:1, 40:1, and 60:1. The fitness of the egg parasitoids emerging from these ratios was assessed using a flight chamber test. Sterile male and female FCM treated with 150 Gy of gamma irradiation were crossbred with fertile counterparts. The resulting eggs were then exposed to egg parasitoids for parasitism. The study evaluated the parasitism rates of newly laid (24 h), 48 h and 72 h old eggs. Overall, eggs from all ratios were suitable for egg parasitoid development and acceptable for oviposition. Significantly higher proportions of parasitised eggs were recorded between the control (0:1) and ratios 40:1 and 60:1 with 48 h old eggs. Additionally, a higher number of egg parasitoids emerged across the ratios, with a higher proportion of female-to-male parasitoids recorded. These findings indicate that egg parasitoids can successfully accept and hatch from FCM eggs from different sterile to fertile moth ratios. This suggests the potential for achieving a synergistic suppressive effect by combining SIT and augmentative releases of egg parasitoids for improved FCM control. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary to investigate the combined releases of sterile moths and parasitoids under field conditions. • FCM eggs from all ratios were suitable for parasitoid development and oviposition. • More parasitoids emerged in ratios where sex ratio was in favour of female parasitoids. • FCM egg age significantly affected the proportion of emerging egg parasitoids compared to different ratios. • T. cryptophlebiae can successfully accept and hatch from FCM eggs from different ratios. • There is potential for synergistic suppression combining SIT and T. cryptophlebiae in FCM control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mating disruption is the broadcasting of female pheromones within an agricultural system to interfere with, or decrease, the reproductive potential of the pest insect. Seen as a sustainable, nonchemical management method, it is used in citrus orchards against false codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Research to support its efficacy against FCM is limited, especially in stone fruit and table grapes. Previous efforts to quantify mating disruption against FCM have yielded inconsistent results, highlighting the necessity for additional investigation. In the present study, an experimental design that provides reliable results was evaluated. Following their release in a stone fruit orchard and a table grape vineyard, sterile males were recaptured with a trapping grid every 24 h, for five days. Trapping efficiency, trap interference and recaptures of wild and sterile moths were compared. Factors that improved the reliability of results included the use of mark-release-recapture experiments, using a nine-trap layout and a paired control, which ensured that only one variable was changed. Experimental blocks were then either treated with 400 or zero pheromone dispensers/ha. The current study reports the first experimental evidence that mating disruption is an effective control method against FCM in stone fruit and table grapes. Mating disruption was calculated at 86% in stone fruit and 93% in table grapes, with less than the field dose, indicating that mating disruption shows promise as a control technique against FCM, in both stone fruit and table grapes. The present study, therefore, sets a solid foundation for further research into the mechanistic understanding of how the pest is disrupted, as well as into calculating the dosage causing the highest level disruption with the smallest amount of pheromone. • Experimental evidence showed efficacy of mating disruption against false codling moth in stone fruit and table grapes. • In table grapes a high level of mating disruption of 92% was achieved. • Recapture of 13.5% of moths enabled reliable mating disruption calculations in both crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Degree-day models are often used to time the activity of key pest life stages. • Farmers also often collect pest data as counts that are not easily interpretable. • Our model predicts pest abundance based on field data and phenology models. • This model will allow for more informed pest management decision-making. Sustainable pest management in crop systems requires that producers target control tactics to key periods of pest activity. To accomplish this, producers often sample pests to estimate abundance and use degree-day models to predict timing of discrete pest phenology events. However, there are few examples of management tools that link phenology models with sampling data to make predictions of pest abundance. Here, we propose a method to predict pest captures by linking trap count data collected in-season with models that predict the cumulative emergence of insects from heat accumulation. Specifically, we used a 20-year dataset of codling moth Cydia pomonella (L.) pheromone trap captures to build and validate a model that produces a prediction band of cumulative captures until the end of the overwintering generation, assuming constant sampling and no migration or controls. Uncertainty was calculated as a function of the predicted mean, sample size, prediction length, and model variance. Model validation revealed that > 75 % of the tested moth capture trajectories fell within prediction bands when they were produced at or after 350 degree-days. The model provides a tool for codling moth management that integrates sampling data with an established phenology model to produce sound within-season population predictions. Producers can use such tools to make decisions on pesticide applications that are both timed to the proper pest life stage and informed by population dynamics predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The false codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick), is a major pest of citrus fruits and other plants and is defined as a quarantine pest in several countries. Supervision and visual monitoring are crucial for the detection of eggs and larvae. There is a growing need to implement alternative pest control strategies and early detection methodologies in the packing house before shipping. Biosensors may provide a better-suited solution, as they are portable, do not require expensive equipment, and may be used with simple methodologies. In this study, a whole-cell bacterial biosensor was developed to identify the presence of Thaumatotibia leucotreta larvae in citrus fruits. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by the larvae were identified (n = 11), which were not previously tested. The change in the VOCs composition in infected and uninfected mandarin (Citrus reticulata) was examined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the bioluminescent bacterial panel. During this work, two fixation methods (alginate beads and tablets) were tested for the bioluminescent bacteria cells, and tablets were preferred due to their higher uniformity and consistency of the light signal from the cells. Furthermore, the response of the bacteria to the changes in the concentration of VOCs as a result of a change in the amount of the larvae was examined (larvae n = 3, 6, or 9). In addition, in order to demonstrate the ability of the whole-cell biosensor to detect the presence of larva within the fruit, infected and uninfected mandarins were tested on the 14th day of larval hatching. The results showed that the bioluminescent bacteria could differentiate between mandarins with and without larva. The differences in the light signals (Induction Factor (IF)) between the mandarin fruits can be seen in the results with the larva (cytotoxicity IF = 3.046, genotoxicity IF = 2.643, and quorum sensing IF = 1.954) and without (cytotoxicity IF = 1.589, genotoxicity IF = 1.149 and quorum sensing IF = 1.205). The findings of this study make it possible to further develop a prototype using bioluminescent bacteria in order to detect pests of citrus fruits. The early detection of infected fruits will allow their filtering from the crop and therefore reduce the damage to additional fruits. Even one larva can invalidate the whole stock and the plot for future export. • The false codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta , is a major pest. • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profile between infected and non-infected. • Whole-cell bacterial biosensor to identify Thaumatotibia leucotreta in citrus fruits. • Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for volatiles from the larvae. • The bioluminescent bacteria can identify mandarins with larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The false codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta , is a major quarantine pest native to Africa. Physical postharvest phytosanitary measures such as cold and heat treatments are championed to control its spread to new regions. However, the molecular changes that T. leucotreta undergoes as it attempts to adjust to its surroundings during the treatments and withstand the extreme temperatures remain largely unknown. The current study employs RNA-seq using the next-generation Illumina HiSeq platform to produce transcriptome profiles for differential gene expression analysis of T. leucotreta larvae under thermal stress. The transcriptome assembly analysis revealed 226,067 transcripts, clustering into 127,018 unigenes. In comparison to the 25 °C treated group, 874, 91, 159, and 754 individual differentially expressed genes (DEGs) co-regulated at −10, 0, 40, and 50 °C, respectively were discovered. Annotation of the DEGs by gene ontology (GO) revealed several genes, previously implicated in low and high-temperature stresses, including heat shock proteins, cytochrome P450, cuticle proteins, odorant binding proteins, and immune system genes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomics (KEGG) classification analysis revealed that substantive DEGs were those involved in metabolic pathways such as thiamine, purine, folate, and glycerolipid metabolism pathways. The RT-qPCR validation of several significantly up- and down-regulated DEGs showed congruence between RNA-seq and qPCR data. This baseline study lays a foundation for future research into the molecular mechanisms underlying T. leucotreta 's cold/heat tolerance by providing a thorough differential gene expression analysis that has identified multiple genes that may be associated with the insect's ability to withstand cold and heat. [Display omitted] • Molecular response of False codling moth (FCM) as a thermotolerance strategy examined • Gene expression differed significantly in cold/heat temperature treated individuals. • Up-regulation of heat shock proteins and cytochrome p450 • Thermal stress significantly affects metabolic pathways. • Congruence between RNA-seq and qPCR data [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of exclusion systems for integrated pest management (IPM) have become viable alternatives to traditional insecticide use in tree fruit production globally. Exclusion netting has been particularly effective as a control strategy for several insect pests of apple. In Minnesota, USA, hail netting, used to protect high-value fruit from hail damage, was recently shown to effectively exclude the two major insect pests: codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.) and apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella Walsh). The present study aimed to determine the impact of single-row, drape-style hail netting (DrapeNet®) on the natural enemy community and how this compared to the impact of insecticides used by a Minnesota grower. Sampling occurred during 2021 and 2022 at two orchard locations in Minnesota using yellow sticky traps. Natural enemies were identified to the family level, and these data were examined to determine family richness, diversity, and relative abundance. Compared to unnetted rows, rows covered with hail netting had a significant reduction in both family richness and predator abundance, as measured by yellow sticky traps. The overall abundance of the three most common predator families, Anthocoridae, Empididae, and Coccinellidae, along with other families, was significantly reduced under netting. By contrast, using Simpson's diversity index we found that family diversity was significantly higher under netting, while the insecticides used did not affect diversity. These findings indicate that non-target effects of netting include a general reduction in the abundance of natural enemies and the disproportionate exclusion of Anthocoridae. However, predator diversity was higher under netting, indicating that biological control services could remain intact under netting even with modest use of insecticides. • DrapeNet® hail netting reduced populations of natural enemies. • Natural enemy diversity was significantly higher under netting. • Novaluron and acetamiprid did not significantly alter natural enemy populations. • Anthocoridae was the most abundant natural enemy family observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Codling moth (CM) is a major apple pest. Current manual method of detection is not very effective. The development of nondestructive monitoring and detection methods has the potential to reduce postharvest losses from CM infestation. Previous work from our group demonstrated the effectiveness of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and acoustic methods as suitable techniques for nondestructive CM infestation detection and classification in apples. However, both have limitations that can be addressed by the strengths of the other. For example, acoustic methods are incapable of detecting external CM symptoms but can determine internal pest activities and morphological damage, whereas HSI is only capable of detecting the changes and damage to apple surfaces and up to a few mm inward; it cannot detect live CM activity in apples. This study investigated the possibility of sensor data fusion from HSI and acoustic signals to improve the detection of CM infestation in apples. The time and frequency domain acoustic features were combined with the spectral features obtained from the HSI, and various classification models were applied. The results showed that sensor data fusion using selected combined features (mid-level) from the sensor data and three apple varieties gave a high classification rate in terms of performance and reduced the model complexity with an accuracy up to 94% using the AdaBoost classifier, when only six acoustic and six HSI features were applied. This result affirms that the sensor fusion technique can improve CM infestation detection in pome fruits such as apples.

The systematic and long-term use of pesticides in fruit plantations leads to the formation of resistant pest populations. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of entomophages and acariphages for the protection of apple orchards. Against the dominant pest Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus), Habrobracon hebetor (Say) was used, which was caught in the Krasnodar Territory using cassettes with caterpillars attractive to H. hebetor. To determine the most genetically high-quality population, an RAPD analysis was carried out from three Russian (Krasnodar, Stavropol, and Belgorod) and one Kazakh (Shymkent) populations of H. hebetor, which revealed a high level of DNA polymorphism and genetic diversity in the studied geographical populations of the cities of Krasnodar and Stavropol. The efficiency of the captured Krasnodar population of H. hebetor against C. pomonella was about 75%. To regulate the number of aphids Aphis pomi De Geer and Tetraneura caerulescens (Pass.), breeding reserves of the aphidophages Harmonia axyridis Pallas, Leis dimidiata Fabr., Cycloneda sangvinea L., and Aphidius colemani Vier. were established. The biological efficiency of the developed technique was 82.8–88.6%. The release of the acariphages Amblyseius andersoni (Chant) and Metaseiulus occidentalis (Nesb.) on the apple tree showed effectiveness from 80 to 90% against Tetranychus urticae Koch and Panonychus ulmi (Koch). To study the possibility of simultaneous use of entomophages and insecticides, experiments were carried out to study the sensitivity of H. hebetor and H. axiridis to insecticides. When H. hebetor cocoons were treated with Insegar® and Atabron®, the ectoparasitoid emergence values were 98.4% and 100%, respectively. The survival of adult H. axiridis treated with Madex twin®, Atabron®, and Koragen® on the fifth day was 97.3%, 89.6%, and 81.9%, respectively. Based on the data obtained, it can be argued that it is possible to create favorable conditions for entomophages, which effectively regulate pest numbers in apple orchards.

Landscape heterogeneity affects population dynamics, which determine species persistence, diversity and interactions. These relationships can be accurately represented by advanced spatially‐explicit models (SEMs) allowing for high levels of detail and precision. However, such approaches are characterised by high computational complexity, high amount of data and memory requirements and spatio‐temporal outputs may be difficult to analyse. A possibility to deal with this complexity is to aggregate outputs over time or space, but then interesting information may be masked and lost, such as local spatio‐temporal relationships or patterns. An alternative solution is given by meta‐models and meta‐analysis, where simplified mathematical relationships are used to structure and summarise the complex transformations from inputs to outputs. Here, we propose an original approach to analyse SEM outputs. By developing a meta‐modelling approach based on spatio‐temporal point processes (STPPs), we characterise spatio‐temporal population dynamics and landscape heterogeneity relationships in agricultural contexts. A landscape generator and a spatially‐explicit population model simulate hierarchically the pest–predator dynamics of codling moth and ground beetles in apple orchards over heterogeneous agricultural landscapes. Spatio‐temporally explicit outputs are simplified to marked point patterns of key events, such as local proliferation or introduction events. Then, we construct and estimate regression equations for multi‐type STPPs composed of event occurrence intensity and magnitudes. Results provide local insights into spatio‐temporal dynamics of pest–predator systems. We are able to differentiate the contributions of different driver categories (i.e. spatio‐temporal, spatial, population dynamics). We highlight changes in the effects on occurrence intensity and magnitude when considering drivers at global or local scale. This approach leads to novel findings in agroecology where, for example, we show that the organisation of cultivated patches and semi‐natural elements play different roles for pest regulation depending on the scale considered. It aids to formulate guidelines for biological control strategies at global and local scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garden agrobiocenosis is one of the most complex biological systems and is characterized by the greatest stability and longevity of coenotic relationships. However, the systematic and long-term use of pesticides in fruit plantations leads to qualitative and quantitative changes in the phyto and zoophagous fauna. The consequence of the uncontrolled use of the chemical method is the formation of resistant pest populations. This study discusses the current trends in the biological control of the codling moth, which ensures high efficiency of crop protection with the combined use of pheromone disorientation, an entomopathogenic virus, and the parasitic hymenoptera Habrobracon hebetor Say. We've found that complementary methods of disrupting the sexual chemical communication of the pest, the use of the codling moth granulosis virus and the 2-3-times release of gabrobrakon allow you to keep the yield at the level of the chemical standard. The efficiency achieved is ensured by prolonged and uniform emission of pheromone and dispensers, high efficiency and selectivity of the baculovirus product Fermovirin CM and parasitic activity of the gabrobracon H. hebetor ectoparasite against middle and older ages caterpillars of the codling moth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In two separate experiments, we examined how (1) developmental temperature and (2) transport conditions influenced the low-temperature performance and flight ability of false codling moth (FCM) adults. In experiment 1, larvae were exposed to a control (constant 25 °C), a cold treatment (constant 15 °C) or a fluctuating thermal regime (FTR) (25 °C for 12 h; 15 °C for 12 h) for 5 days, whereafter larvae were returned to 25 °C to pupate and emerge. After adult emergence, cold tolerance, life history traits and flight ability were scored. In experiment 2, adult FCM were exposed to 4 or 25 °C, with or without vibrations, whereupon flight ability, spontaneous behaviour (i.e., muscle coordination by monitoring whether the moth moved out of a defined circle or not) and cold tolerance were determined. The results of the first experiment showed that FTR led to enhanced cold tolerance, increased flight performance and high egg-laying capacity with minimal costs. The results of the second experiment showed that transport conditions currently in use did not appear to adversely affect flight and cold performance of FCM. These results are significant for refining conditions prior to and during release for maximum field efficacy in an SIT programme. Here we aimed to assess whether variation in (1) developmental temperature and (2) transport conditions influenced the low-temperature performance and flight ability of false codling moth (FCM) adults in an SIT programme. To achieve the first aim, larvae were exposed to either a (control) (constant 25 °C), a cold treatment (constant 15 °C) or a fluctuating thermal regime (FTR) (25 °C for 12 h to 15 °C for 12 h) for 5 days, whereafter larvae were returned to 25 °C to pupate and emerge. After adult emergence, critical thermal minimum, chill coma recovery time, life history traits and laboratory flight ability were scored. For the second aim, adult FCM were exposed to 4 or 25 °C with or without vibrations to simulate road transportation. After the pre-treatments, flight ability, spontaneous behaviour (i.e., muscle coordination by monitoring whether the moth moved out of a defined circle or not) and chill coma recovery time were determined. The first experiment showed that FTR led to enhanced cold tolerance, increased flight performance and high egg-laying capacity with minimal costs. The second experiment showed that transport conditions currently in use did not appear to adversely affect flight and low-temperature performance of FCM. These results are important for refining conditions prior to and during release for maximum field efficacy in an SIT programme for FCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic yard waste from western Washington, U.S. that may contain puparia of apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae), had been moved to central Washington for composting, threatening the $3 billion apple industry concentrated in that region. Heating waste to kill fly puparia before it is transported could be a solution to this problem. Here, we report results of studies in 2016–2021 that sought to identify a minimum heat treatment simulating that obtained using a low-pressure steam generator for maximizing kill of R. pomonella puparia. In two experiments, puparia were exposed to temperatures ramped linearly over 6 h from 21°C to 47.8, 51.1, 55.0, or 60.0°C in an oven. The 47.8, 51.1, and 55°C treatments did not achieve 100% mortality, although only one adult fly from 4,000 puparia was found in the 55°C treatment, while no puparia survived the 60°C treatment. In a third, similar experiment, no puparia out of 2,400 exposed to 55°C survived. In a fourth and final experiment conducted over 3 years, no puparia out of 61,223 exposed to a 6-h ramp from 21°C to 55°C followed by a 1-h hold time at 55°C produced flies. In addition, all puparia in this treatment died. Based on 42.3 to 69.8% control survival, 31,217 puparia were killed by this treatment with no survivors, for a probit 8.7190 level of security. Results suggest that the 55°C and 1-h hold time treatment here is close to the minimum heat regime needed for disinfesting organic waste of R. pomonella puparia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh), was introduced into the apple-growing regions of the Pacific Northwest in the U.S.A. during the past 60–100 yr. Apple maggot (larvae, puparia, and adults) is difficult to distinguish from its morphologically similar sister species, Rhagoletis zephyria Snow, which is native and abundant in the Pacific Northwest. While morphological identifications are common practice, a simple, inexpensive assay based on genetic differences would be very useful when morphological traits are unclear. Here we report nucleotide substitution and insertion–deletion mutations in the nontranscribed spacer (NTS) of the ribosomal RNA gene cistron of R. pomonella and R. zephyria that appear to be diagnostic for these two fly species. Insertion–deletion variation is substantial and results in a 49 base-pair difference in PCR amplicon size between R. zephyria and R. pomonella that can be scored using agarose gel electrophoresis. PCR amplification and DNA sequencing of 766 bp of the NTS region from 38 R. pomonella individuals and 35 R. zephyria individuals from across their geographic ranges led to the expected PCR fragments of approx. 840 bp and 790 bp, respectively, as did amplification and sequencing of a smaller set of 26 R. pomonella and 16 R. zephyria flies from a sympatric site in Washington State. Conversely, 633 bp mitochondrial COI barcode sequences from this set of flies were polyphyletic with respect to R. pomonella and R. zephyria. Thus, differences in NTS PCR products on agarose gels potentially provide a simple way to distinguish between R. pomonella and R. zephyria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early varieties with a short active vegetation period are not exposed to abiotic stress factors for instance drought, high temperature, etc., caused by global climate change, and biotic stress factors such as codling moth (Cydia pomonella) and apple scab (Venturia inequalis) that cause serious economic losses. Therefore, their places are extremely important regarding sustainable, economical and quality production. In this context, four early varieties of apple ('Vista Bella', 'Summer Red', 'Williams Pride' and 'Jersey Mac') grown in Eskisehir—Turkey where has continental climate were characterized in terms of horticultural characteristics. The difference observed in flowering and harvest times between years showed that average air temperatures are essential on phenological characteristics. Furthermore, high temperature accelerates development physiology of fruit. Major important characteristics, namely, fruit length, width, weight, soluble solid content, antioxidant activity, vitamin C and total phenolic content were found in the range of 39.19–50.88 mm, 51.48–60.81 mm, 80.59–86.16 g, 11.87–12.19%, 50.69–80.57%, 2.24–4.79 mg 100 mL−1 and 259.23–871.42 mg GAE (gallic acid equivalent) L−1, respectively. 'Summer Red' and 'Williams Pride' varieties were found to be good in terms of pomological characteristics, while 'Vista Bella' came to the fore with its chemical properties. On the other hand, 'Jersey Mac' has shown superior performance in terms of both pomological and chemical characteristics. Pomological characteristics are affected more by ecological differences, while chemical characteristics vary according to the changes in the pomological properties. Pomological characteristics were found to have a significant positive correlation with each other but negatively correlated with chemical characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eupoecilia ingens Sun & Li, 2014 is recorded in Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, representing the first record from Japan. A diagnosis for this species is provided based on the Japanese specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field studies tested the use of lure-baited traps for female removal (FR) of codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in apple, Malus domestica Borkhausen, treated with sex pheromone-based mating disruption (MD-FR). Four lures were evaluated, including the combination of (E,Z)-2,4-ethyl decadienoate (pear ester, PE), (E)-4,8- dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene (DMNT), and 6-ethenyl-2,2,6-trimethyloxan-3-ol (pyranoid linalool oxide, LOX), these three components with (E,E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol (PH), and two lures loaded with PH/PE. All lures were used with a co-lure loaded with acetic acid (AA). Studies examined the importance of trap type and density on moth catches. Seventeen trials were conducted in 1-3 ha adjacent paired plots treated with or without 60 traps ha-1 in Washington State from 2018-2020. Paired plots were each treated with MD and a similar spray regime. The mating status of females in the MD-FR plots were compared with females collected from blocks not treated with MD. The PE/DMNT/LOX + AA lure caught significantly more females than any other lure. The most effective trap was a bucket trap with a green top and a clear bottom. Total or female moth catches per trap did not decline across trap densities from 37 to 99 ha-1. MD-FR trials showed that levels of fruit injury could be significantly reduced 50–75% across each moth flight. The proportion of mated females was 8 to 19% lower in blocks treated with MD-FR than not treated with MD. Further studies are needed to refine key operational factors associated with MD-FR considering the economics of organic and conventional apple production across [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a total of 28 braconid species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in 19 genera and nine subfamilies, Agathidinae (two species, two genera), Alysiinae (three species, three genera), Brachistinae (four species, two genera), Braconinae (nine species, four genera), Cheloninae (three species, two genera), Euphorinae (one species), Macrocentrinae (one species), Microgastrinae (two species, one genus) and Opiinae (three species, three genera) were reared from 33 host species belonging to 18 families in the orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera. Seven braconid species are reported here as new for the Iranian fauna. Based on data available, eight new host records are also reported: Bacterocera sp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) for Utetes truncatus; Coleophora serratella (Linnaeus, 1761) (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae) for Agathis rufipalpis; Megaselia minuta (Aldrish, 1892) (Diptera: Phoridae) for Dinotrema concolor; Acanthocinus elegans Ganglbauer, 1884 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) for Vipio longicauda; Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) for Phanerotoma tritoma; Psylliodes cuprea (Koch, 1803) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) for Townesilitus aemulus; Agromyza ambigua Fallén, 1823 (Diptera: Agromyzidae) for Xenobius macrocerus; and Phytomyza horticola Goureau, 1851 for Chorebus flavipes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The false codling moth is an indigenous pest of the citrus industry in southern Africa. It is a major threat as it can cause substantial fruit damage through larval feeding. The microorganisms associated with insects are often studied for their potential to kill their host instead of how they could aid them. However, in recent years, this aspect of their interaction has received much attention. The codling moth has been shown to have a close relationship with the naturally occurring yeast found within their digestive tract. These beneficial yeasts help the adult female moths locate a suitable host for egg laying. During their larval phase, these yeasts help them develop faster and increase their chance of survival. These interactions could be manipulated for the purposes of biological control, as one might be able to combine these yeasts with existing biological control agents to improve their effectiveness. These yeasts may also provide additional methods for monitoring field populations of insect pests. In this study, we identified yeasts that occur naturally in the guts of false codling moth larvae and investigated whether any of them are beneficial to their host. Thaumatotibia leucotreta is endemic to southern Africa and is highly significant for various fruit industries, including the South African citrus industry, due to its classification as a phytosanitary pest. Mutualistic associations between C. pomonella, closely related to T. leucotreta, and yeasts have previously been described and reported to reduce larval mortality and enhance larval development. Here, we determined which yeast species occur naturally in the gut of T. leucotreta larvae and investigated whether any of the isolated yeast species affect their behaviour and development. Navel oranges infested with T. leucotreta larvae were collected from geographically distinct provinces in South Africa, and the larvae were processed for analysis of naturally occurring associated yeasts. Six yeast species were isolated and identified from the guts of these T. leucotreta larvae via PCR amplification and sequencing of the ITS region of rDNA and D1/D2 domain of large ribosomal subunit. Larval development and attraction assays were conducted, and T. leucotreta larvae that fed on Navel oranges inoculated with yeast had accelerated developmental periods and reduced mortality rates. Neonate T. leucotreta were also attracted to YPD broth cultures inoculated with yeast for feeding. Oviposition preference assays were conducted with adult T. leucotreta females. Navel oranges inoculated with yeast were shown to influence the oviposition preference of adult females. Yeasts harbour the potential for use in biocontrol, especially when combined with other well-established control methods. This study provides a platform for future research into incorporating yeast with current biological control agents as a novel option for controlling T. leucotreta in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa is the 13th largest producer and second largest exporter of citrus fruit globally. The false codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta, and the fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata, C. rosa and Bactrocera dorsalis, can potentially infest citrus fruit and therefore pose a phytosanitary risk for export markets. Consequently, a wide range of postharvest phytosanitary treatments for disinfestation of citrus fruit from these pests have been investigated. These include cold treatments, irradiation, fumigation, heat treatments, and combinations of some of these. Due to the potential phytotoxic effects of all these treatments, the use of a systems approach that depends on two or more independent measures for acceptable phytosanitary risk mitigation is a preferable option. To date, the only postharvest disinfestation treatments used commercially for T. leucotreta and fruit flies for South African citrus, are stand-alone cold treatments and partial cold treatments, as a component in a multi-tiered systems approach. Research on development of novel and improvement of existing postharvest measures continues as a high priority. This includes postharvest detection technologies, in addition to treatment technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The codling moth (CM), Cydia pomonella (L.), is among the economically important pests of pome fruits. This moth causes tremendous crop losses worldwide annually. In the current study, 210 larvae from apple, pear, quince, and walnut orchards were collected from seven locations in Zanjan province, Iran. Four CM-specific microsatellite DNA loci, including Cyd10, Cyd11, Cyd12, and Cyd13, were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). According to the results, the CM population sampled from quince showed the highest number of alleles per locus with the mean observed and effective allele numbers 1.75 and 1.51, respectively. The latter shows the number of alleles with equal frequencies that contributed the most to the observed heterozygosity. Also, the mean observed and expected heterozygosity for this population was 0.508 and 0.258, respectively. The increased observed heterozygosity confirms that the selection acts in favor of heterozygote genotypes. Large genetic distances were detected between the CMpopulation from quince and the populations sampled from the other host plants, the largest between quince and walnut populations. Further, among-population diversity contributed the most to the insect’s genetic diversity, which was 89%. Moreover, some of the populations had a deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p < 0.001). While Cyd13 locus was more polymorphic than the other tested loci, Cyd11 locus was monomorphic. These findings reveal genetic variation in C. pomonella, collected from various fruit trees, indicating differences in some phenotypes noteworthy in integrated pest management.

The egg-larval parasitoid, Ascogaster quadridentata Wesmael (Hym.: Braconidae) was stored for six months in the mature larvae of codling moth (CM), Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lep.: Tortricidae), under diapause conditions. Percentage of parasitoid adults (wasps) emerged from CM larvae reared under diapause conditions was about 86.6%. The biological characteristics (weight and longevity) were similar for both wasps that were treated under standard and diapause conditions. The data showed that percentage of parasitism for females emerged from standard conditions was 86.4%, while increased significantly to 97.8% for females emerged from diapause conditions. These findings may contribute to the mass rearing of A. quadridentata.

The potential for the newly established ichneumonid Mastrus ridens (Horstmann) to provide biological control of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), was simulated by incorporating different rates of parasitism into previously published life tables for a univoltine codling moth population on unsprayed apple trees in Nelson, New Zealand. Simulations over eight years were conducted using high and low initial codling moth densities, as occur respectively on neglected apple trees and commercially managed orchards. Life table simulations without M. ridens served as control treatments for comparison with simulations that included various rates of parasitism by each of the estimated three annual generations of the parasitoid. Based on the percentage parasitism recorded in New Zealand and the international literature, M. ridens is projected by the models to provide a valuable reduction of codling moth populations on neglected host trees in Nelson and thereby reduce the numbers of immigrant adult moths invading commercial apple orchards. In contrast, the codling moth is maintained at such extremely low densities within commercial apple orchards growing fruit for export that M. ridens is projected to make only a small contribution to parasitism within the orchard. These simulation results confirm the validity of the rationale for the introduction of M. ridens to New Zealand, which aimed to reduce the numbers of immigrant codling moths arriving in orchards from highly infested and neglected host trees in the wider environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many methods to detect plant pests and diseases, but they are primarily time-consuming and costly. Computer vision techniques can recognize the pest- and disease-damaged fruits and provide clues to identify and treat the diseases and pests in their early stages. This study aimed to identify common pests, including the apple capsid (Plesiocoris rugicollis)/AC, apple codling moth (Cydia pomonella)/ACM, Pear lace bug (Stephanitis pyri)/PLB, and one physiological disease-apple russeting/AR in two cultivars, Golden Delicious and Red Delicious, using the digital image processing and sparse coding method. The Sparse coding method is used to reduce the storage of the elements of images so that the matrix can be processed faster. There have been numerous studies on the identification of apple fruit diseases and pests. However, most of the previous studies focused only on diagnosing a pest or disease, not on computational volume reduction and rapid detection. This research focused on the comprehensive study on identifying pests and diseases of apple fruit using sparse coding. The sparse coding algorithm in this work was designed using Matlab software. The apple pest and disease detection were performed based on 11 characteristics: R, G, B, L, a, b, H, S, V, Sift, and Harris. The class detection accuracy using the sparse coding method was obtained for 10 classes with three views of apple for S. pyri of red apple as 81%, S. pyri of golden apple as 88%, golden apple russeting as 85%, S. pyri and russeting of red apple as 100%, S. pyri and russeting of golden apple as 80%, codling moth of red apple as 86%, codling moth of golden apple as 72%, S. pyri of red apple as 83%, S. pyri of golden apple as 90%, codling moth and S. pyri of red apple as 80%, and codling moth and S. pyri of golden apple as 67%. The total processing time for developing the dictionary was 220 s. Once the dictionary was developed, pest and disease detection took only 0.175 s. The results of this study can be useful in developing automatic devices for the early detection of common pests and diseases of apples. Although the study was focused on apple diseases, results for this work have huge potential for other crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]