FRUIT BORERS

Chapter 15
FRUIT BORERS
Wu Junxiang
Li Yiping
Junxw@nwsuaf.edu.cn
lyp2003@126.com

Chapter 15 Fruit Borers
Lecture Outline
Wheat blossom midges
Cotton boll borer and Oriental Tobacco
Budworm
Soybean borers
Fresh fruit borers
Dried fruit borers
Monitoring and Management

Wheat Blossom Midges
( 小 麦 吸 浆 虫 )
Wheat blossom midges = wheat midges
Diptera, Cecidomiidae
• Orange wheat blossom midge
Sitodiplosis mosellana
• Contarinia tritici

Orange wheat blossom midge
Sitodiplosis mosellana

Contarinia tritici

1. Distribution
‣ Cosmopolitan pests, distributed in Asia,
Europe and North America;
‣ Sitodiplosis mosellana favors warm
environment. Mainly occur in wheat
growing areas of valleys of Yellow River and
Huai River in 31-35°N. in China.
‣ Contarinia tritici prefers cool environment.
Mainly distributed in wheat growing areas
of alp and altiplano.

Oligophagous pests. Severely damage wheat, barley,
highland barley wild oat ( 青 稞 ), rey, oat and some
weeds;
2. Damage
Larvae damage to wheat flowers and sucking of the
sap of milking wheat kernels causes wheat plants to
produce non-rich grains. Generally, the amount of
damage is abundant. When severe damage occurs, the
loss is almost 100%.
幼 虫 危 害 小 麦 花 器 和 吸 食 正 在 灌 浆 的 小 麦 籽 粒 的 浆 液 , 造 成 瘪 粒 而
减 产 , 受 害 严 重 时 几 乎 毁 产 。

Sitodiplosis mosellana

Taken by Junxiang Wu in Xushui, Hebei , 2003

Taken by Junxiang Wu in Xushui, Hebei , 2003

3. Life Cycle
1 generation/year;
Overwinter and oversummer as grown
larvae with round cocoon in soil;
Diapause larvae can prolong diapause
for a long time. Longest prolonged time is
more than 7 years, even 12 years to
Sitodiplosis mosellana or less than 4-5
years to Contarinia tritici.

Life Cycle of wheat midges

3. Life Cycle
A close relationship occurs between the
stages of the wheat midge and development of
wheat found in valley areas of Yellew River
and Huai River:
Overwintered larvae come out from cocoon
to surface of soil during shooting stage of
wheat;
Larvae pupate when wheat enters booting
stage;

3. Life Cycle
Adults largely emerge and oviposit during
heading stage.
Peak of egg hatching is concurrent with
blossoming and grouting stage of wheat;
Larvae become grown and leave wheat
heads to drop into soil to oversummer and
overwinter with round cocoons when wheat
become mature.

4. Behaviors
Adults fear strong light and high temp,
so most frequent activity in early morning
and nightfall;
Eggs lay on wheat heads individually;
adults prefer to choose heads without
blossoms to oviposit; very few eggs found
on blossomed heads;
Newly hatched larvae intrude from gap
between inner glume and outer glume to
suck sap of grouting kernels

5. Environmental Factors
1) Climate conditions
Rainfall or soil humidity is the most
important factor influencing population #.

5. Environmental Factors
2) Varieties and developmental stages of wheat
Generally, an obvious insect resistance is found
in wheat varieties with long awns, abundant hairs,
upright stems, densely-ranked spikelets and hard
glumes. Conversely, it is in a contrary manner.
More damage is caused when the wheat heading
stage coincides with the adult stage of wheat blossom
midge. If these stages do not coincide, only a slight
injury appears.
一 般 地 , 芒 长 多 刺 、 挺 直 、 小 穗 排 列 紧 密 、 颖 壳 厚 、 的 品 种 具 有 明
显 的 抗 虫 性 。
若 小 麦 抽 穗 后 尚 未 扬 花 前 的 时 期 与 麦 红 吸 浆 虫 成 虫 盛 发 期 相 吻 合 ,
则 受 害 重 , 反 之 受 害 就 轻 。

5. Environmental Factors
3) Rotation and culture
4) Soil and topography
5) Natural enemies
宽 腹 姬 小 蜂 : parasite rate 75% or more;
Predators: ants, spiders, ladybird
beedles and insect-eating
eating thrips, , etc.

Cotton Bollworm &
Oriental Tobacco Budworm
Cotton Bollworm Helicoverpa armigera
(called also 棉 实 夜 蛾 );
Oriental Tobacco Budworm Helicoverpa
assulta ( 烟 青 虫 , called also 烟 夜 蛾 );
Lepidoptera, Noctuidae

Cotton Bollworm Helicoverpa armigera

Oriental Tobacco Budworm
Helicoverpa assulta

1. Distribution
Cotton Bollworm Helicoverpa armigera:
Asia, Oceania, Africa and Europe;
range from 50°N. to 50°S.;
Nationwide distribution in China;
Constant pest in Northern cotton growing
areas; occasional pest in southern cotton
growing areas;

Oriental Tobacco Budworm
Helicoverpa assulta :
‣ Asia, Oceania;
‣ Nationwide distribution in China; Most
severe damages in tobacco growing areas
along valleys of Yellow River and Huai
River
1. Distribution

Tuvalu, 1991
( 图 瓦 卢 —— 西 太 平 洋 岛 国 )

2. Damage
Cotton bollworm is a polyphagous pest.
More than 200 host plants in 30 families
recorded. Cotton, tomato and corn severely
damaged;
Oriental tobacco budworm is an
oligophagous pest, only feed on tobacco,
pepper, etc.

2. Damage
The larvae initially feed on the leaves
and then bore into the square/bolls and
seeds, thrusting their heads into the bolls
and leaving the rest of their bodies outside.
The entry holes are large and circular at
the base of the boll. One larva can damage
about 10 square/bolls in a lifetime,
maximum 18.

3. Life Cycle
3-7 generations per year; 3 in Liao River
and Xinjiang, 2nd causing the most damage;
4 in Yellow River and part of Yangtsz River,
2nd causing the most damage, next 3rd; 5 in
most of Yangtsz River, 3rd and 4th causing
the most damage; 6-7 in areas south of
25°N., 3 rd , 4 th and 5th causing severe
damage.
Overwinter as pupa in soil-cells under
ground

3. Life Cycle
In cotton growing area of Yellow River
valley, adults of overwintered generation
appear in late April to early May. Larvae of
1st generation mainly feed on wheat, peas,
alfalfa, spring corn and tomatoes, etc.; enter
soil to pupate in early-mid Jun. A large
amount of 1st generation adults appear in
mid-late Jun., which is the square stage of
cotton. Larvae of 2nd generation cause the
most severe damage to cotton.

3. Life History
Adults of 2 nd generation appear
copiously from late Jul. to early Aug. Most
oviposit on cotton; a few move to tomato or
corn fields to oviposit. Third generation
adults appear from late Aug. to early Sep.
Most of them lay eggs on cotton; some lay
eggs on summer corn, tomatoes, peppers and
sorghum. Larvae of 4th generation mature
from late Sep. to early Oct. and enter soil of
5-15cm depth to overwinter.

4. Main habits
Adults:
Are still in shadows during daytime; are
active in nightfall and night;
Strong tropism to nectar, light and poplar
branches;
Lay eggs individually on tender tips and
leaves of plants that are growing well
and have many squares.

4. Main habits
Larvae:
Newly hatched larvae feed on growing
points and young leaves; 2nd instar larvae
feed on squares; 3 rd to 6 th instar larvae feed
on green bolls in addition to squares and
flowers;
Often move between plants;
Cannibalism in 3rd instar larvae or older;
Grown larvae
pupate in soil-cells

4. Factors Influencing Population
Optimal temp.25-28℃, RH 70%+;
Multi-planting system is favorable
for cotton bollworm;
B.t cotton;
Natural enemies.

Soybean Borers
( 豆 类 食 心 虫 )
Soybean borers feed on flowers and
pods of soybean during late growing.
• Soybean pod borer Leguminivora
glycinivorella ( 大 豆 食 心 虫 )
• Limabean pod borer Etiella zinckenella
( 豆 荚 螟 )
• Legume pod borer Maruca testulalis ( 豆
野 螟 )

1. Soybean Pod Borer
Leguminivora glycinivorella
( 大 豆 食 心 虫 )
Called also 大 豆 蛀 荚
蛾 , 小 红 虫 , 豆 荚 虫 ;
Lepidoptera;
Olethreutidae
( 小 卷 蛾 科 )

2. Limabean pod borer
Etiella zinckenella
( 豆 荚 螟 )
Called also 豆 蛀 虫 ;
Lepidoptera;
Pyralidae.

3. Legume pod borer
Maruca testulalis
( 豆 野 螟 )
‣ Chinese byname is
大 豆 卷 叶 螟 , 豇 豆
钻 心 虫 and 大 豆 螟
蛾 ;
‣ Lepidoptera;
‣ Pyralidae.

3. Legume pod borer
Maruca testulalis
( 豆 野 螟 )

Borers of Pome and Stone Fruits
( 仁 果 、 核 果 类 食 心 虫 )

1. Common Species
• Peach fruit moth Carposina sasakii ( 桃 蛀 果 蛾 ,
桃 小 食 心 虫 , 简 称 “ 桃 小 ”)
• Yellow peach moth Dichocrocis punctiferalis
( 桃 蛀 野 螟 , 桃 蛀 螟 , 桃 蠹 螟 , 桃 斑 蛀 螟 )
• Craphlitha molesta ( 梨 小 食 心 虫 , 桃 折 梢 虫 , 梨
小 蛀 果 蛾 , 东 方 果 蠹 蛾 , 梨 姬 食 心 虫 , 桃 折 心 虫 ,
简 称 “ 梨 小 ”)

1. Common Species
• Pear fruit moth Myelois pirivorella ( 梨 云 翅 斑
螟 , 梨 大 食 心 虫 , 简 称 “ 梨 大 ”)
• Spilonota albicana ( 白 小 食 心 虫 , 简 称 “ 白 小 ”)
• Grapholitha inopinata ( 苹 小 食 心 虫 , 简 称 “ 苹
小 ”)
• Argyresthia assimilis ( 苹 异 银 蛾 )
• Codling moth Laspeyresia pomonella ( 苹 果 蠹
蛾 )

Peach fruit moth Carposina sasakii

Yellow peach moth
Dichocrocis punctiferalis ( 桃 蛀 野 螟 )

Craphlitha molesta ( 梨 小 食 心 虫 )

Nephopteryx pirivorella ( 梨 云 翅 斑 螟 )

Spilonota albicana ( 白 小 食 心 虫

Grapholitha inopinata ( 苹 小 食 心 虫 )

Argyresthia assimilis ( 苹 异 银 蛾 )

2. Distribution and Damage
Peach fruit moth Carposina sasakii( 桃 蛀 果 蛾 )
Northern fruit growing areas;
Oligophagous pest. Mainly damage apple,
Chinese cherry ( 海 棠 ), pear, apricot,
hawthorn ( 山 楂 ), Chinese date ( 枣 ), spine date
( 酸 枣 ) in Rosaceae( 蔷 薇 科 ) and Rhamnaceae
( 鼠 李 科 ).

2. Distribution and Damage
Apple, Chinese date and hawthorn most
severely damaged.
Needlepoint-like boring holes on the fruit
surface and teardrop-like sap, which becomes
white when dry, are often found outside holes
on damaged apple fruits. Larvae feed inside
fruits causing many zigzagging tunnels and
fill these tunnels with dung. This damage is
called “ 豆 沙 馅 ”.
危 害 苹 果 , 果 面 有 针 尖 大 小 蛀 入 孔 , 孔 外 溢 出 泪 珠 状 汁 液 , 干 涸 呈
白 色 絮 状 物 。 幼 虫 在 果 内 窜 食 , 虫 道 纵 横 弯 曲 , 并 留 有 大 量 虫 粪 , 呈
“ 豆 沙 馅 ” 害 状 。

Peach fruit moth Carposina sasakii damage

Peach fruit moth Carposina sasakii damage

2. Distribution and Damage
2. Yellow peach moth Dichocrocis
punctiferalis ( 桃 蛀 野 螟 )
Nationwide distribution in China. Most
severe damage occurs in peach growing areas
from Hebei to south valley of Yangstz River.
Polyphagous pest; prefer peach, guava ( 石
榴 );
Heavy dung-like granules piled outside
wormhole

Yellow peach moth
Dichocrocis punctiferalis
damage

Craphlitha molesta ( 梨 小 食 心 虫 ) damage

3. Life History and Habits
1) Peach fruit moth Carposina sasakii
1-2 generations/year in most of apple
growing areas;
Overwinter as grown larvae underground
with flat-round cocoons within 1m from
stems;
Overwintered larvae begin to come out
from soil to pupate early-mid May, peak in
late May to early Jun.

3. Life History and Habits
Adults of overwintered generation appear
in succession after late May;
Most eggs lay on fruits individually and
often found near pit of calyces ( 花 萼 );
Larvae of 1st generation become grown
and leave fruit to drop into soil from early
Jul. to early Sep.
Larvae of 2nd generation leave fruits from
mid-late Aug. until Oct., then overwinter.

3. Life Cycle and Habits
2) Yellow peach moth Dichocrocis punctiferalis
2-4 generations/year in North, such as 2 in
Liaoning, 3-4 in Shaanxi;
Overwinter as grown larvae with cocoons in
cracks of warped barks;
Overwintered larvae begin to emerge in mid
May, peak of eclosion in late May
Adult peaks of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generations
occur in early Jul., early-mid Aug. and early-mid
Sep. respectively.

3. Life Cycle and Habits
Adults fly and mate at night and have stronger
tropism to black light and sugar-vinegar liquor;
Adults of overwintered generation lay most eggs
on fruits of peach, plum ( 李 ) and apricot; other
generations on peach, guava ( 石 榴 ) and chestnut ( 板
栗 );
Final grown larvae transfer and overwinter in
late Sep.

3. Environmental factors
Peach fruit moth Carposina sasakii:
‣ Overwintered larvae come out from soil
to pupate: ground temp. over 20ºC and 10%
water content in soil;
‣ Diapause under both long photoperiod
and short photoperiod;
‣ 金 冠 severely damaged; next 红 元 帅 ; 国
光 and 祝 less.

3. Environmental factors
Yellow peach moth Dichocrocis punctiferalis
Strong adaptability; moth occurs in fruitgrowing
areas of all China.
Lower temp. in winter is a limiting factor.
Death rate of overwinter larvae is about
44.4%-80%, especially more in immature
overwinter larvae.

Dry-fruit Borers
( 干 果 类 害 虫 )
Dry-fruits include persimmon ( 柿 子 ),
Chinese date ( 枣 ), walnut ( 胡 桃 , 核 桃 )、
chestnut ( 板 栗 ), etc.

Common Insect Pests
• Kakivoria flavofasciata ( 柿 蒂 虫 )
• Atrijuglans hetaohei ( 核 桃 举 肢 蛾 )
• Curculio davidi ( 栗 实 象 甲 )

Stathmophora massinisa ( 柿 蒂 虫 )
Called also 柿
实 蛾 or 柿 食 心
虫 ;
Lepidoptera;
Heliodinidae
( 举 肢 蛾 科 )

Atrijuglans hetaohei ( 核 桃 举 肢 蛾 )
又 名 核 桃 黑 ; Lepidoptera; Heliodinidae

Curculio davidi ( 栗 实 象 甲 )
‣ Called also 栗
象 鼻 虫 , 板 栗 象
甲 and 栗 象 ;
‣ Coleoptera;
‣ Curculionidae
( 象 甲 科 )

Monitoring
and
Management

1. Survey Methods
Wheat blossom midges:
Basic number of oversummer and
overwinter population;
Dynamics of larvae development and
pupating in spring;
Adult # during heading stage;
Larvae # on wheat heads.

1. Survey Methods
Cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera
Basic number of overwinter pupa;
Adult #;
Number of larvae and eggs;
Number of natural enemies.

1. Survey Methods
Peach fruit moth Carposina sasakii
‣ Number of overwinter larvae;
‣ Overwinter larva dynamics of coming
out from soil in spring;
‣ Adult # and dynamics;
‣ Egg-fruit rate.

2. Control Techniques
1) Wheat blossom midges
In integrated pest management, from a
long-term view, the tactics of wheat blossom
midge control should be to put choosing and
breeding resistant varieties and improving
cultural techniques as basic measures, with
chemical control as an additional measure.
防 治 小 麦 吸 浆 虫 的 策 略 , 从 长 远 考 虑 应 以 选 育 抗 虫 品 种 和 改 进 耕 作
栽 培 技 术 为 基 本 措 施 , 辅 以 必 要 的 化 学 药 剂 防 治 , 实 行 综 合 治 理 。

2. Control Techniques
Cultural control
Rational crop rotation;
Resistant varieties.
Chemical control
Economic threshold: 4.5 million/hm 2
(only reference);
Optimal time: pupating peak and adult
emerging peak.

2. Control Techniques
2) Cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera
Cultural control
Deeply plowing and irrigation in winter
to decrease overwinter pupa;
Plant resistant BT cotton;
Biological control
Release trichogrammatids 2-3 times at
the beginning of egg peak.

2. Control Techniques
Trap-killing Adults
Black light;
High pressure mercury light;
Poplar branches;
Sexual lure.
Chemical control
Spray insecticides before 3 rd larvae

2. Control Techniques
To control the cotton boll borer of 2nd generation,
the insecticide solution should first be sprayed on
tender upper leaves and main tips of plants and then
on tender lower leaves and peripheral tips of plants.
This method is called “ 点 点 划 圈 ”. To control the
cotton boll borer of 3rd and 4th generations, first
spray plant peripheral tips and young squares
around plants and then spray the main tips of plants.
This method is called “ 划 圈 点 点 ”.
防 治 2 代 棉 铃 虫 时 , 主 要 喷 洒 在 棉 株 上 部 嫩 叶 和 顶 尖 上 ,“ 点 点 划
圈 ”; 第 3、4 代 要 喷 洒 在 群 尖 和 幼 蕾 上 , 四 周 打 透 ,“ 划 圈 点 点 ” 。

2. Control Techniques
3) Control of fruit borers
Cultural control
Deeply plowing soil in winter;
Plant trapping crops such as sunflower
and cross sorghum to lure adults of yellow
peach borer to oviposit. Spray insecticides
after ending of ovipositing;
Bundle weeds on trunks to trap overwinter
pests.

2. Control Techniques
Biological control
Applying nematode pathogens into soil
can control fruit-borer larvae living
underground. To control larvae having left
fruits, release egg trichogrammatids and
protect parasitoids such as 甲 腹 茧 蜂 and 齿 腿
姬 蜂 or use white muscardine fungi.
将 昆 虫 病 原 线 虫 施 入 土 壤 , 可 控 制 地 下 阶 段 生 活 的 蛀 果 害 虫 。 释 放
赤 眼 卵 蜂 , 保 护 甲 腹 茧 蜂 、 齿 腿 姬 蜂 等 寄 生 蜂 , 利 用 白 僵 菌 防 治 脱 果 幼
虫 等 。

2. Control Techniques
Physical control
Black light trapping;
Sugar-vinegar liquor
trapping;
Sexual lure.
Cover-bag on fruits
Extirpate fruits with
borers in time;
Scratch old and warped
bark

2. Control Techniques
Chemical control
Key time to spray insecticides:
Moth peaks;
Egg hatching peaks.
Economic threshold:

Lepidopteran larvae consume
1/6 of the world's daily agricultural
production.
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