Invasion Biology, Ecology, and Management of the Light Brown Apple Moth (Tortricidae)

Abstract

Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), the light brown apple moth (LBAM), is an important leafroller pest with an exceptionally wide host range that includes many horticultural crops and other woody and herbaceous plants. LBAM is native to southeastern Australia but has invaded Western Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, much of England, and in 2007, it was confirmed as established in California. The discovery of this pest in California has led to a major detection and regulatory effort because of concerns about economic and environmental impacts. Its recent discovery in Sweden is also of note. LBAM has often been intercepted on imports of fruit and other plant parts, and it has the potential to become a successful invader in temperate and subtropical regions worldwide. The importance of the insect has prompted development of classical biological control programs together with a wide variety of other management interventions that can be used in integrated pest management or integrated pest eradication.

Biological invasion of European tomato crops by Tuta absoluta: ecology, geographic expansion and prospects for biological control

“…Invasive species represent a major threat to both natural (Clavero and García-Berthou 2005;Samways 2007) and agronomic (Olson 2006;Haack et al 2010;Suckling and Brockerhoff 2010;Ragsdale et al 2011) ecosystems.…”

Tomato leafminer [(Tuta absoluta Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)] and its current ecofriendly management strategies: A review

“…The most important T. absoluta egg parasitoids are found in the families of Trichogrammatidae, Encyrtidae, and Eupelmidae (Ghoneim, 2014). About 210 species of Trichogramma are signaled as natural enemies of a variety of agricultural and forest pests in many regions of the world and at least 12 species are widely used commercially in biological control programs (Pratissoli et al, 2005;Kumar et al, 2009;Suckling and Brockerhoff, 2010). This parasitoid has short generation time and they can be easily reared on respective hosts (Mansour, 2010).…”

Limits to the potential distribution of light brown apple moth in Arizona–California based on climate suitability and host plant availability

“…): Tortricidae) is indigenous to Australia where it is considered a pest of pome fruits and grape, but it has been recorded from a broad range of host plant species including crops, ornamentals and herbaceous weeds (Danthanarayana 1975;Geier and Briese 1981;Suckling and Brockerhoff 2010). This pest was accidentally introduced into England, Hawaii, New Caledonia and New Zealand, and was first found in the San Francisco Bay area by University of California Emeritus Professor Jerry Powell in 2006(Brown 2007.…”