Cydia molesta Busck (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a major pest of stone fruits and an increasingly important late season pest of apple, is predominately monitored by pheromone trapping of male moths. We investigated flight performance in relation to sex, age, and mating status using computer-linked flight mills, and also examined the relationship between female flight and reproduction. The crepuscular flight pattern of the experimental moths in relation to photointensity was very similar to that reported from field studies. Female moths significantly outperformed males in all measured flight parameters including total distance flown, distance of longest single flight, and velocity. The proportion of long-flying females (categorised as those completing an unbroken flight of greater than 1 km) was three to six times greater than that of males. Female flight performance was not related to mating status, but mated males displayed significantly greater flight than unmated males. The maximal flight period of mated females commenced on the third day after eclosion, following 30% egg deposition. Male flight was not significantly related to age. The data suggest that a limited proportion of the population, in particular females, may have the capacity to make inter-orchard flights. The limitations of monitoring C. molesta populations in apple orchards solely by pheromone trapping of males are discussed.

Abstract.  1. The codling moth Cydia pomonella, one of the most important pest insects of apple fruit orchards worldwide, is regarded as a ‘sedentary’ insect, but the natural populations consist of both mobile and sedentary genotypes that display different dispersal capacity in the field. The current study investigated whether there is a fitness consequence of being mobile in this species by comparing two strains with contrasting levels of mobility obtained through bi‐directional selection. 2. Female moths of the sedentary strain were significantly larger, laid more eggs during their lifespan, and both male and female moths of this strain lived longer, when compared with the mobile strain. 3. The age‐specific fecundity of female moths from the sedentary strain was significantly greater, in particular between 3 and 5 days after emergence when the peaks of both oviposition and flight capacity occur, relative to the mobile moths, thereby leading to a greater reproductive function. 4. These differences resulted in different demographic parameters between the two strains. The sedentary strain had a significantly greater net reproductive rate (Ro) and a higher intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm), although the generation time (T) was similar, hence requiring a shorter time to double the population size, in comparison to the mobile strain. 5. This study provides empirical evidence for the cost of being mobile in C. pomonella. Trade‐offs between mobility and fitness might have contributed to the existence of genetic variance for dispersal behaviour in the natural populations and the maintenance of relative sedentariness in the species.

Dispersal of adult tortricid moths between habitats may have important consequences for pest management in orchards, but little is known about how ßight parameters are affected by environmental conditions during preimaginal development. The inßuence of changing temperature and photoperiod (both singly and in combination) as well as of larval crowding and food deprivation were investigated in Cydia molesta Busck (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a species that has been found to disperse after peach harvest and colonize pome fruit orchards. Comparative assessments of ßight parameters were made on a computer-linked ßight mill and life history traits were evaluated. A signiÞcant increase in ßight performance was correlated with preimaginal exposure to decreasing photoperiod. In addition, pupal development was delayed and larger individuals emerged, but preimaginal survivorship was reduced. Decreasing and increasing temperature regimens and increasing photoperiod did not inßuence adult ßight. Larval crowding was associated with increased ßight, but the differences were not statistically signiÞcant. Food deprivation was associated with accelerated preimaginal development, lower pupal weight, less fecund adults, and reduced ßight. We propose that the main factor eliciting dispersal in this tortricid is decreasing photoperiod.

New Zealand apple growers need to produce crops that satisfy conflicting export market requirements Some markets want pestfree fruit while others demand residuefree fruit Pheromone mating disruption combined with the judicious use of insecticides enables crops to meet both demands This study in 14 Hawkes Bay apple orchards showed that seasonal pheromone trap catch was reduced by 70 from 401 codling moths/trap in the season before mating disruption was introduced to 117 moths/trap over the subsequent five seasons In the same period insecticide use reduced from 59 applications/season in 2006 07 to 23 in 200708 and 37 since 200809 The incidence of larvae in fruit where mating disruption operated averaged 001 which was lower than in orchards using insecticides only Damage increased from 200809 with greater reliance on codling moth granulosis virus over residual insecticides Nevertheless mating disruption with 34 insecticide sprays controlled codling moth to the high standard needed