Evidence that sweet cherry, Prunus avium L. is not a host of codling moth,Cydia pomonella, (Lepidoptera : Tortricidae)

Codling moth is an oligophagous pest which primarily attacks pome fruits. R ecords of its occurrence in sweet cherries are extremely rare. Despite this , some countries require fumigation of imported sweet cherries for control of codling moth on the grounds that sweet cherry is a host. The reported in cidence of codling moth in sweet cherries is reviewed and evidence presente d to show a clear non-preference of ovipositing codling moth and their larv ae for sweet cherry in the field. This was demonstrated both in a randomise d block experiment, where codling moths were given a choice of single trees interplanted with apples, and in orchards where large blocks of infested a pples bordered blocks of sweet cherries. The unequivocal results obtained, and the rarity of records of codling moth in sweet cherries, are presented as grounds for removing this fruit from the lists of host plants of codling moth used by quarantine services. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.