Distribution of Grape Berry Moth, Endopiza viteana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in Natural and Cultivated Habitats

Abstract

The relative abundance of male grape berry moths, Endopiza viteana Clemens (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), was studied within Michigan grape agroecosystems during 1999-2001. Distribution within and between habitats was determined using pheromone traps placed at different heights between the interior of deciduous woods and interior of adjacent vineyards. Comparisons of relative moth abundance across habitats using traps at the standard 1.5 m sampling height confirmed that moths are more abundant in the woods in spring and in the vineyard later in the season. Traps placed at 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, and 9.0 m above ground level in woods and vineyards revealed that moth relative abundance increases with height in woods, whereas 90.0% of moths caught in vineyards were at 1.5 m above ground level. Sampling inside the woods up to 15.2 m revealed that 76.1% of moths were found at or above 9.0 m. Relatively few moths were trapped in the interface between these habitats, where grapevines are not present. The results of vertical sampling suggests that moths are not moving from woods to vineyards, but instead are most abundant high in the woods canopy. These results show that the relative abundance of grape berry moth varies within and between habitats, and suggest that distribution of this specialist insect is associated with the distribution of its wild and cultivated host.