Trap Catches of Codling Moth in Commercial Washington Sweet Cherry Orchards

Abstract

In 1999 and 2002, pheromone traps were used to survey adult male codling moths, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in commercial cherry (Prunus avium L.) orchards as well as adjoining pome orchards containing apple (Malus Xdomestica Borkh.) or pear (Pyrus communis L.). In 2002, sites containing isolated cherry trees and areas with no codling moth host trees were also sampled. Most codling moths were collected from pome orchards, whereas the lowest numbers were from the commercial cherry orchards. Fruit phenology data indicated that maximum codling moth flight was at a time when fruits were very immature. Cherries make a good candidate for the systems approach to quarantine security because few moths occur in commercial cherry orchards and, if fruit are infested, they would be too damaged to be harvested.

Key Words:

• Pheromone
• systems approach
• host status
• distribution