Moths of North Carolina
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2 NC Records

Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus, 1758) - Codling Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: OlethreutinaeTribe: GrapholitiniP3 Number: 621380.00 MONA Number: 3492.00
Comments: Cydia is a large genus with over 200 described species that occur worldwide, and with around 50 species in North America. Several species are important economic pests that often feed on fruits and seeds.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923)Technical Description, Immature Stages: MacKay (1959)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following description is based in part of that of Forbes (1923). The head, palps, antennae, and thorax are all gray. The forewing ground is pale gray with a series of vertical, irregular, darker gray striations. A broad, dark-gray, antemedial band is present at around one-fourth that extends from the costa to the inner margin. The outer margin of the band is broadly scalloped and bowed outward near the middle. The ocellus has two vertical bronzy-brown to golden-brown bars on the anterior and posterior margins, with the outer one more or less broken up. The central region is filled with golden-brown to chocolate brown that continues beyond the ocellus where it forms a large oval area that almost reaches the costa and termen. The ocellus is preceded by a curved, heavy, black bar that extends from the sub-tornal region to the vertical bar on the ocellus, where it ends in a point. The costa is striated and gray like the wing, and the fringe is grayish to grayish-brown with a black basal line. The hindwing is brown with a paler fringe that has a dark basal line.
Forewing Length: 6.5-11.0 mm (Gilligan et al., 2008)
Adult Structural Features: Gilligan et al. (2008) and Gilligan and Epstein (TortAI) provide images of the male and female genitalia. They note that the males are characterized by a ventrally projecting spur at the base of the cucullus, while the females have a short sclerotized ductus bursae.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Cydia pomonella is a major pest of commercially produced apples around the world, including North Carolina, and there are hundreds of published papers on its life history and biology. There can be 1-4 generations per year depending on the latitude and climate. In the Southeast there are typically two generations per season, although a partial or complete third generation sometimes occurs (Walgenbach, 2014). The full-grown larvae overwinter within a thick, silken cocoon either under loose bark on trees or in the soil or leaf litter beneath trees. With the spring warm-up, the larvae pupate within the cocoons and the adults emerge within 1-4 weeks depending on ambient temperatures. Females lay eggs singly on the developing apples and the larvae usually tunnel directly into the fruits and leave holes with brown frass that is visible on the exterior. Inside the fruit, they generally make a straight path to the core and sometimes feed on the seeds (Forbes, 1923; Chapman and Lienk, 1971; Walgenbach, 2014). Larvae in the first brood then leave the fruit and pupate on tree trunks, branches, and dead wood. The emerging adults mate and the females lay eggs on maturing apples, with the larvae repeating the life cycle. The fully developed larva are about 19 mm long with a pinkish-beige body and a brown head capsule and prothoracic shield. They lack an anal comb, which is helpful in distinguishing them from the Oriental Fruit Moth that is often found in the same fruits.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Cydia pomonella is native to Eurasia but has spread globally with the commercial cultivation of apples and pears. It is broadly disitributed across North America where apples and other fruit crops are grown, including much of the non-arid regions of the US and adjoining areas of southern Canada. As of 2022, we only have two site records for North Carolina. This species is a significant pest in apple-growing regions of the state such as Henderson County and has been under-reported due to many populations being restricted to the immediate vicinity of apple orchards.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Adults in the eastern US typically fly from April or May through October. The adults first emerge in North Carolina in April and May. As of 2022, our very limited records are from early August and mid-October.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations are commonly associated with apple orchards and other fruit-bearing trees.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae are polyphagus and feed on a variety of host plants, particularly members of the Rosaceae. Some of the domesticated orchards plants that are used include apples, pears, peaches, and quince, while native hosts that are used throughout the range include chestnuts (Castanea spp.) oaks (Quercus spp.), Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), American Plum (Prunus americanus), and hawthorns (Crataegus spp.), - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and readily come to pheromone traps.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This is an introduced pest and does nor merit protection.

 Photo Gallery for Cydia pomonella - Codling Moth

Photos: 1

Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2014-10-14
Gates Co.
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