Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (2013) 148, 259-266

Thomas Seth Davis, Stephen F. Garczynski, Camille Stevens-Rumann and Peter J. Landolt (2013)
A test of fruit varieties on entry rate and development by neonate larvae of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 148 (3), 259-266
Abstract: The rate of entry by neonate larvae of the frugivorous codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), into fruit material was investigated. We used no-choice bioassays in climate-controlled rooms to assay larval entry across four host plant species (apple, pear, quince, walnut) and three varieties within a single fruit species (apple). Larvae successfully entering apples were reared to adulthood, and we collected tissue samples from apples which were successfully colonized in order to determine sucrose concentrations. This information was used to evaluate differences in adult moth size, development time, and pulp sucrose concentration due to apple variety. Four important findings emerged: (1) neonate larvae had the highest frequency of entry (86% of larvae) into apple fruits, compared with pear (78%), quince (56%), and walnut (32%); (2) the frequency of larval entry into immature apples differed across apple varieties, and larval entry rate was highest in variety Golden Delicious (72%), compared with Granny Smith (46%) and Red Delicious (64%); (3) on average, adult moths were larger and development times were shorter on the variety with the highest entry frequency (Golden Delicious); and (4) apple pulp sucrose concentrations were higher for Golden Delicious (17.5 μg mg⁻¹) than for either Granny Smith (15.9 μg mg⁻¹) or Red Delicious (15.1 μg mg⁻¹) varieties, which correlates positively with entry and development data. We conclude that host fruit species and varietals within a species affect the entry rate of neonate codling moth larvae in no-choice assays. We hypothesize that larval development is influenced by mean sucrose concentrations or other phytochemical differences associated with host fruit varieties.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Peter J. Landolt

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Cydia pomonella	Apple (Malus)
	Cydia pomonella	Pear (Pyrus)
	Cydia pomonella	Quince (Cydonia oblonga)
	Cydia pomonella	Walnut/butternut (Juglans)