Codling moth flight models differ between commercial and abandoned apple orchards

The codling moth (CM), Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a serious internal fruit-feeding pest of apples. Accurately predicting the timing of CM flight and egg-hatch allows growers to understand and control local populations of CM. Currently, the PETE (prediction extension timing estimator) model is used to predict life cycle events for many fruit pests across different fruit growing regions. The current CM-PETE model has never been validated in Pennsylvania apple orchards. Therefore, studies were conducted to develop and compare the CM flight models in commercial and abandoned apple orchards during 2007 and 2008. The flight models were derived from the cumulative percent moth capture using two different types of commercial CM lures. CM male flight patterns (first and second generations) as predicted by constrained and unconstrained models in commercial and abandoned orchards (regardless of the lure type and study year) were different than the flight patterns predicted by the currently used CM-PETE model. The female CM flight pattern was different in commercial versus abandoned orchards. The unconstrained model was found more representative of CM flight in abandoned and commercial apple orchards in PA.