Adult activity patterns of Cnephasia jactatana Walker (Lepidoptera Tortricidae)

Abstract

The New Zealand leafroller Cnephasia jactatana Walker is an important pest of kiwifruit Larvae of this species feed on dead or live plant tissues and damage the surface of the fruit or burrow deep into the flesh To provide important information for the development of adult monitoring and control methods we studied circadian rhythms and lifespan activity patterns of C jactatana The investigation was carried out at 20 2C 75 10 RH and a photoperiod of 168 h lightdark Females needed a significantly longer time to complete their life cycle than males Most moths emerged during the photophase On a circadian basis courtship activity peaked 3 and 6 h into scotophase; mating peaked 46 h into scotophase and most ovipositions occurred in the first 2 h of scotophase In the lifespan of this species male courtship display started 2 days after emergence and peaked 1 day later; mating and oviposition peaked 3 and 7 days after emergence respectively Most females initiated oviposition 1 day after mating