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International Journal of Environment Science and Technology
Center for Environment and Energy Research and Studies (CEERS)
ISSN: 1735-1472 EISSN: 1735-2630
Vol. 2, Num. 2, 2005-2006, pp. 101-104

International Journal of Enviornmental Science and Technology, Vol. 2, No. 2, Summer, 2005, pp. 101-104

Environmental monitoring of Archips podana (fruit tree tortrix moth) in Bramley apple orchards in Northern Ireland

1*A. G. S. Cuthbertson and 2A. K. Murchie

1Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK
2Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland and the Queen’s University of Belfast, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX, UK
*Corresponding Author, E-mail: a.cuthbertson@csl.gov.uk

Code Number: st05013

Abstract

Apple is host to many species of tortricid moths. Archips podana is an economically important species in the Bramley’s Seedling apple orchards of Northern Ireland. Chemical pesticides are routinely applied to control moth populations. Pheromone trapping has shown that the moths are not concentrated in any particular habitat. Moth damage to fruit is generally negligible. The need for careful judgement to be applied before deciding on the application of chemical pesticides to control moth populations is discussed.

Key words: Archips podana, Anystis baccarum, Bramley apple, chemical pesticides, spray threshold

Introduction

Apple is host to an extensive fauna of tortricid moths (Cross, 1996). Mészáros, et al. (1984) recorded 88 species in the apple orchards of Hungary and at least 25 species have been recorded as pests in apple orchards throughout the United Kingdom (UK) (Alford, 1984). However, most of them have been considered to be of minor importance and out of the vast array of species only three are considered to be significant pests by UK apple growers. These are: (1) Cydia pomonella ((Linnaeus), codling moth); (2) Adoxophyes orana ((Fischer von Röslerstamm), summer fruit tortrix moth); (3) Archips podana ((Scopoli), fruit tree tortrix moth). It is the latter species that occurs significantly in Bramley’s Seedling apple orchards in Northern Ireland (Mowat and Clawson, 1996).

Archips podana hibernate as young larvae in cocoons fixed to twigs or buds. These emerge in spring over a fairly long period from late March to early May when leaf buds are at the green cluster or flower buds at the pink bud stage. Pupation occurs in late May to early June inside leaves that have been spun together by the larvae. The adult moths appear during mid-June and are found mostly up until mid-August. The greatest numbers of moths appear in late June or July depending on the climatic conditions. Eggs are laid in several batches of 50100 eggs on the upper surface of leaves during June and July (Bradley, et al., 1973). The egg mass is covered with a wax-like secretion that so closely matches the green colour of the leaf that detection is difficult (Massee, 1954). Hatching of eggs occurs within 17-23 days (Massee, 1946). Larvae disperse after hatching and, whilst young, each one lives in a silken web placed beside the midrib on the underside of a leaf. This new generation larvae may cause further damage to the apple fruit before they hibernate. Larvae taken into apple stores can even continue to feed on the fruit. Some of the larvae of the new generation hibernate after moulting once or twice; others develop to maturity and give rise to a second generation of moths in September and early October. Numbers of A. podana have been found to regularly exceed the recommended UK Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS) action threshold of 30 moths per pheromone-baited trap per week (Cross and Berrie, 1994) in Northern Irish commercial Bramley’s Seedling apple orchards (Mowat and Clawson, 1996). However, despite greatly exceeding the spray threshold for treatment, rarely any of the apples are considered unmarketable; although some may be downgraded, overall damage is generally negligible (Mowat and Clawson, 1996). The aim of this study was to monitor A. podana numbers in managed orchards (insecticides applied) compared with unmanaged habitats (surrounding habitats with no insecticides applied), and to test if the pheromone traps were simply attracting the moths into the Bramley orchards from the surrounding habitats.

The study was carried out at the Northern Ireland Horticulture and Plant Breeding Station in Loughgall, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, UnitedKingdom. During 1997.

Materials and Methods

Archips podana were monitored using pheromone traps made out of 1.75 l. milk cartons. The inside of each was coated with Hyvis glue (British Petroleum, Belfast, UK) and contained a female sex pheromone dispenser (cis-11-and trans11-tetradecenyl acetate, 1:1 ratio) (van der Kraan and van Deventer, 1982) (Agralan Limited, Swindon, UK). Five traps were placed in managed orchards and five in unmanaged habitats (Table 1). Numbers of A. podana caught were recorded weekly from 20 June until 28 October 1997. Fresh pheromone dispensers were put in the traps after 6 weeks. The habitats were all situated within a five mile radius of the Northern Ireland Horticultural and Plant Breeding Station, Loughgall, CountyArmagh, UK (N 054o 24.3' W 006o 35.8').

To assess the female A. podana population and compare trapping efficiencies, two additional sampling methods were employed in the managed orchards. A 12 V heath portable moth light trap was placed in between the rows of trees at a height of 1 m. above the ground from 22.00 h. until 03.00 h. (GMT) on four nights (23-24 June and again on 1819 July). On the same nights, the lower branches of 20 trees were sweep netted (15 sweeps each) under spotlight at 24.00 h. (GMT). Data underwent analysis of variance using ANOVA.

Results

No significant difference was obtained between numbers of A. podana in managed orchards compared to unmanaged habitats (Figure 1) during peak time of occurrence on 11 July (F = 1.11; df = 1,9; P = 0.35), or 18 July (F = 6.47; df = 1,9; P = 0.06). Managed orchards had a peak mean of 72 moths caught per trap per week compared to 63 for unmanaged habitats.

The ADAS action threshold (30 moths per trap per week) was well exceeded. A small second generation of moths was noted during mid-September to early October. No A. podana were captured in the light trap or by spotlight sweep netting in the orchards.

Discussion and Conclusion

The capture of moths within attractant traps will depend on both distance of attraction and possible interaction between neighbouring traps along with other factors such as prevailing wind direction (van der Kraan and van Deventer, 1982). Firm information on these distances is unavailable, although more is known about capturing than interfering distances. Minks and Noordink (1971) captured male Adoxophyes orana up to a distance of 75 m. Wall and Perry (1980) found an attraction distance of 100 m. for Cydia nigricana (pea moth). No attraction distance for the pheromone used for A. podana attraction has been published.

As the light trap or spotlight sweep netting failed to capture any A. podana in the orchards would support the hypothesis that moths were pulled-in from surrounding habitats. Archips podana are polyphagous and feed on many tree species (Carter, 1984). However, with no significant difference occurring between managed orchards and unmanaged surrounding habitats, the results suggest that the moths are occurring in the area but are not concentrated in any particular habitat.

No significant damage was caused to fruit of the apple trees by A. podana throughout the study (<1% was designated as insect damage, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland, unpublished data), despite their numbers greatly exceeding the ADAS action threshold.

Nonetheless, with populations well above the ADAS threshold, damage would be expected. Reasons for this are unclear but it may be due to a feeding preference by the larvae: the Bramley fruit may simply be too acidic for the larvae to feed upon. In New Zealand apple orchards the predatory mite Anystis baccarum (Linnaeus) has been cited as a valuable predator of tortricid larvae (Baker, 1983). Anystis baccarum is common within commercial Northern Irish Bramley orchards (Cuthbertson, 2004, 2005; Cuthbertson and Murchie, 2004a and b and Cuthbertson and Murchie, 2005a and b) and has been shown to readily feed upon other economically important invertebrate pest species occurring in the orchards (Cuthbertson and Murchie, 2003; Cuthbertson, et al., 2003a and b; Cuthbertson and Murchie, 2004b). It will no doubt also prey on A. podana larvae.

The current ADAS action threshold for A. podana has not been specifically designed for Bramley’s Seedling apple orchards but for dessert apple orchards (Cross and Berrie, 1994), therefore, the need to spray must be carefully calculated. Apple growers must move away from the ‘calendar spraying’ regime that currently operates within many UK apple orchards. The benefits of such a move would be huge in terms of both economic and environmental aspects. The capture of moths by the pheromone traps does not prove that the moths are resident in the orchard, or that their larvae use apple as a host. Pheromone-trap catches only indicate relative activity for the particular species captured (Cross, 1996). The findings from this study would indicate that A. podana are commonly occurring in many habitats including the apple orchards. However, they are not concentrated in any particular habitat. Therefore, considerable judgement by the individual apple grower, weighing up the potential of moth larvae damage with the economics of chemical control and the effects on the environment needs to be undertaken before deciding to apply pesticides to control A. podana. Thus, helping to avoid unnecessary pesticide applications and move the Northern Irish apple industry towards a more long term environmentally sustainable production system.

Archips podana are widely occurring in all habitats and are not concentrated within the Bramley apple orchards. Their numbers regularly occur above the recommended ADAS spray threshold, however, economic damage is rarely recorded. There is a need for fruit growers to weight up the potential risk of fruit damage against the effect of unnesessary pesticide applications on the environment and nontarget species before deciding to apply chemicals against A. podana.

Acknowledgement

Dr. Andrew G. S. Cuthbertson was funded by a Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland) studentship.

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© 2005 Center for Environment and Energy Research and Studies (CEERS)


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