Leafrollers (lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in a strawberry crop in horowhenua: Abundance and control

Abstract

Three species of leafrollers (Ctenopseustis obliquana, Epiphyas postvittana, and Planotortrix excessana) were found to be common on strawberries in Levin. During 1979–80 P. excessana was the most abundant species except for a short period in mid-summer when E. postvittana predominated. Larvae were active throughout the year, peak numbers being obtained in the March-May and July-September periods. A chemical control trial showed that early application of endosulfan, followed by regular treatments with dichlorvos throughout the growing season, reduced leafroller larval numbers to low levels. A spray programme which included two early season endosulfan applications and also the acaricide, cyhexatin, throughout the growing season, gave the best results. © 1981 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.