Ovipositional Behavior of the Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on Stone Fruits in the Field and an Improved Oviposition Cage for Use in the Laboratory

Abstract

Codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), adult pairs were confined in sleeve cages on fruits, stems, and leaves of nectarine, peach, and plum trees. Female moths laid more eggs on the lower leaf surface (56-68%) than on the upper leaf surface (22–30%); stems (3–13%); or fruit (0–12%) of all three cultivars of each fruit type. The level of pubescence reported to deter oviposition (about 70 hairs per cm2) was higher than that found on any oviposition site available in our studies, except for peach fruits. When only fruit (no foliage) was available, the distribution of eggs was 0% on peaches, 12.6% on plums, 46.8% on nectarines, and 40.6% on parts of the cage. A modified oviposition cage is described that uses velour paper as a pubescent surface to deter oviposition on selected cage surfaces and forces most egg deposition onto waxed paper end caps.