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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #116101

Title: THE POTENTIAL FOR SPREAD OF CODLING MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA:TORTRICIDAE) VIA COMMERCIAL SWEET CHERRY FRUIT: A CRITICAL REVIEW AND RISK ASSESSMENT

Author
item WEARING, C - HORTRESEARCH NEW ZEALAND
item Hansen, James D
item WHYTE, C - NEW ZEALAND
item MILLER, C - USDA-APHIS-PPQ
item BROWN, J - USDA

Submitted to: Crop Protection
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/3/2001
Publication Date: 2/1/2001
Citation: Wearing, C.H., Hansen, J.D., Whyte, C., Miller, C.E., Brown, J. 2001. The potential for spread of codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) via commercial sweet cherry fruit: a critical review and risk assessment. Crop Protection Journal. 20:465-488.

Interpretive Summary: Japan requires methyl bromide fumigation of sweet cherries from the United States, New Zealand, and other locations to control for possible infestation by the codling moth. This procedure requires specialized facilities, additional labor, and other added expenses. Furthermore, the fumigations reduce fruit quality and foster health and safety concerns. Yet, historically, codling moth is rarely, if ever, found infesting cherries. Thus, the cherry industry would greatly benefit if another system could be used to replace fumigations, but maintain quarantine security. This document reviews the scientific literature of codling moth life cycle and biology, and it provides evidence that, in the field, cherries are not a host for codling moth. Also, using all information available, the probability of spreading the codling moth through cherries was calculated. The risk of establishing codling moth in Japan through international commerce is extremely low and the extensive fumigation measures used to control the pest are not warranted.

Technical Abstract: The identity, geographical distribution, and host range of codling moth is reviewed, and the evidence for sweet cherry being a host is critically analyzed. A model is described which assesses the risk of codling moth being spread through international trade in sweet cherries, as exemplified by exports from, respectively, New Zealand and U.S.A. to Japan in winter and summer. The model is based on the recorded incidence of codling moth in cherries and its estimated probability of survival during storage, transport to, and arrival in Japan, using data from specific studies and from wider knowledge of the phenology, life history, and biology of the species. There is unambiguous experimental evidence, supported by field observations, that sweet cherry is not a host of codling moth. It is concluded that the risk of codling moth establishing in an overseas country such as Japan through the cherry trade is extremely low and that specific quarantine measures to prevent the introduction of this insect by this route are not technically justified.