Codling Moth Oviposition and Temperature1

Effect of Temperature on the Oviposition, Longevity and Mating of Codling Moth,Cydia pomonella(L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

“…At fluctuating temperatures, the mean daily egg production per female in summer (16.5) was almost double that in spring (7.7), but the difference was also not statistically significant, probably due to the wide variation in the number of eggs laid per day. Isely (1938) found that mean daily egg production per female of summer moths was highest at 27°C (19.2) and lowest at 33°C (7.0) and 22°C (6.7). He also found that periods of high temperatures (heat waves) during the final stages of pupal development had an adverse effect on fecundity.…”

“…Riedl & Loher (1980) recorded peak oviposition on the first day, 50 % eggs produced by the third day and 90 % completed by the ninth day at constant temperatures. At fluctuating temperatures, Isely (1938) reported summer oviposition being highest on the first day and 90 % completed by the seventh day. In spring 16 % of eggs were deposited on the first day and 90 % completed by day 12.…”

“…Hagley (1972) reported a correlation between longevity, and duration of the oviposition period which varied from 4-15 days at a constant temper- ature of 24°C. Isely (1938) showed that at fluctuating summer temperatures over a mean temperature range of 21-33°C, the oviposition period was approximately seven days, although individual moths oviposited for up to 20 days. Selkregg & Siegler (1928) reported similar results with a mean oviposition period of between seven and eight days for both spring and summer moths with a maximum period of 17 days.…”

“…However, Hall (1929) and Deseö (1973) reported that females of the spring generation produced up to 80 % fewer eggs than the summer female moths. Where fecundity has been found to vary between and within seasons this variation has been attributed to variations in climatic factors, such as either unfavourable temperatures (Isely 1938: Geier 1963: Wearing & Ferguson 1971 or snowfall (Trottier & Hagley 1979), rather than food quality which has also been cited as a reason for variation in fecundity (Wearing & Ferguson 1971). Deseö (1971) found a positive correlation between adult weight and fecundity, while Hathaway et al (1973) found no relationship between pupal weight and fecundity.…”

“…The oviposition period of codling moth was reported to be relatively short, particularly at higher temperatures, with 90 % of the eggs being oviposited by the fifth day following mating (Howell 1981). Despite a decrease in longevity with increasing temperature the fecundity of summer moths tended to be higher than that of the spring moths (Hall 1929;Isely 1938;Hagley 1972;Deseö 1973). List & Yetter (1927) obtained equal numbers of oocytes in the ovaries of spring and summer broods and considered the lower fecundity of spring moths to be due to the lower temperatures in spring.…”