Pest alert: light brown apple moth

Adult Epiphyas postvittana (male)Image P1030 Copyright © Malcolm Storey, 2005,www.bioimages.org.uk. All rights reserved.

IntroductionThe light brown apple moth (Epiphyaspostvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera:Tortricidae) is originally from Australia. Ithas become established in the British Isles,Hawaii, New Caledonia, and New Zealandand has recently been detected in Alameda,Contra Costa, Marin, and San Franciscocounties in California. The light brownapple moth (LBAM) is not known fromOregon. This moth is of particular concernbecause of its broad host range and ability tosurvive in a wide variety of climates.

LBAM is reported to attack more than 120plant genera in over 50 families. Some hostsof concern to Oregon include alfalfa, apple,blackberry, blueberry, Brassica spp.(broccoli, cabbage, mustard, etc.), cherry,clover, cottonwood, currant, grape, hops,kiwifruit, peach, pear, poplar, potato,raspberry, strawberry, willow, and evenyoung conifer growth (pines).

Potential riskLBAM feeding can damage or kill seedlingsand affect the appearance of ornamentalplants. It attacks many important orchardand field crops, including apples,

blueberries, cherries, grapes, peaches, andstrawberries by damaging leaves and fruit. Ithas been reported as an economic pest ofapples and grapes in New Zealand andAustralia.

The moth’s presence in Oregon would likelylead to restrictions on shipping of plantmaterial. Several countries, including Chile,Peru, South Africa, and South Korea, listLBAM as a quarantine pest and Canada listsit as a noxious pest.

Pathways for introductionMost interceptions of LBAM have beenassociated with international passengerflights. Fresh fruits and vegetables canharbor viable eggs and larvae. Nursery stockand other live plant material can alsotransport the pest, since egg masses areespecially difficult to find. Due to theirattraction to lights, adults may betransported by aircraft.

Signs of infestation• Young larvae and webbing at base of

leaves

• Egg masses on leaves

• Irregular brown areas on fruit surface

• Rolled leaves bound with silk

Fifth instar larva.By S. Turner, HortResearch.http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a4/Eposlarvae.jpgp

If you see suspected LBAM symptoms please contact ODA. Thank you for your cooperation.April 2007

Oregon Department of Agriculture, Plant Division635 Capitol St. NE, Salem Oregon 97301-2532

Phone: 503-986-4636 http://oregon.gov/ODA/PLANTOregon Invasive Species Hotline: 1-866-INVADER (1-866-468-2337)

Egg mass.Image used with kind permission of HortNET, aproduct of The Horticulture and Food ResearchInstitute of New Zealand Limited.

DetectionAdults, larvae, and other life stages aresimilar to other Tortricid species. As aresult, identification can only be performedby a trained entomologist.

Detection of eggs and larvae on hostmaterial is difficult. Egg masses are verysmall and range from green to brown incolor, making them difficult to spot. Earlystages of larvae are small and may feed onthe underside of leaves, under the calyx offruit, and less commonly, they can bore intothe fruit making detection difficult. Fruitdamage is usually restricted to the surfacecausing irregular brown patches resulting inscarring of the fruit.

Pheromone lures are available for adultmales to be used in detection. Adults of bothsexes will come to blacklight traps.

Life cycleEgg masses contain up to 50 eggs and aregenerally laid on leaves, although they aresometimes laid directly on fruit. Each egg isapproximately 1mm in diameter. The masses

are small, flat, and eggs overlap likeshingles. They range in color from green tobrown. Early instar larvae create a silkshelter on the leaf that they feed under. Laterinstars often create a rolled leaf sheltertypical of the family and will feed on allparts of the leaf except the major veins. Thewhite to pale green larvae pass through fiveto seven instars and grow to approximately2cm in length. Over-wintering occurs in thelarval stage. The pupal stage lasts two tothree weeks inside the shelter of rolled upleaves. Adults fly at dusk and ovipositiontakes place during the day. Adult wingspanis about 2cm. Oviposition begins whenfemales are two to three days old and canlast 21 days. Females can lay over 1,000eggs, although 100 to 500 is more typical.Up to four generations can occur in warmerregions of Australia.

ReferencesThe Horticulture and Food Research

Institute of New Zealand Limited. 1998.HortFACT: Lightbrown Apple MothLife Cycle.http://www.hortnet.co.nz/publications/hortfacts/hf401003.htm accessed April 4,2007.

USDA APHIS. 2007. Daily SituationReport: Light Brown Apple Moth(LBAM). USDA March 29, 2007. 3pp.

Venette, R.C., E.E. Davis, M. DaCosta, H.Heisler, and M. Larson. 2003. Mini RiskAssessment: Light brown apple moth,Epiphyas postvittana (Walker). USDAAPHIS. 38pp.http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/pest_detection/pestlist2004.shtml accessed April 4, 2007.