The Oriental fruit moth (OFM), Grapholita molesta, Busck, has recently emerged as a pest of major economic importance in commercial apple production. While OFM has long been a significant pest problem on stone fruits, the reasons for OFM outbreaks on apple are unknown. The effects of these two host plants on the survival, development, and adult ovipositional behavior were examined in an attempt to understand potential effects of host plant on OFM population dynamics in the field. Larval survival on both growing terminal shoots and fruit was assessed, and differences in developmental parameters were measured. Ovipositional preference of adult OFM from a local field colony was observed over the course of the growing season. The data indicate that current and future phenological models of OFM may need to include host plant considerations, in order to more accurately assess and predict changes in field dynamics of OFM populations.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Tortricidae Grapholita molesta (Oriental fruit moth)
Keywords: field phenology, population dynamics
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