Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Tortricidae

Activity:

Adult recognition 4.0-7.5 mm

The fires are grayish brown with indistinct silver-gray markings on the back and around the ill-defined ocellus. Hindwings are brown. The male genitalia are characterized by a spinous projection in the ventral margin of the valve. Female genitals are characterized by a rounded sterigree, an irregular sclerite in the bursas ductus, and two long, curved, thornlike signa in the bursa corpus.

Adults are similar to other Grapholita species, including Grapholita molesta and Grapholita tenebrosana; A genital dissection may be necessary to confirm the identity of the species, especially if individuals recover from adhesive traps. In G. molesta, the males lack the spine-shaped projection outside the ventral margin of the leaflet and the female sterigree is elongated laterally with small posterolateral projections. In G. tenebrosana, the male valve is more elongated with the pronounced anal angle and the female sterigree is large with triangular lateral lobes.

Pheromone traps using "Funemone" lures are commonly used to trap the male G. funebrana provided catch data for the "Funemone" traps that operate in England over the course of three years. Non-target tortrics attracted by the pheromone "Funemone" include: Cnephasia stephensiana, Cnephasia sp ,. Celypha rufana, Hedya nubiferana, Pammene argyrana, Pammene fasciana, and tenebrosana grapholita. As the lure is not species-specific, it will also attract other Grapholita species, including Grapholita molesta.

It attacks mainly the plum trees (Prunus domestica), varieties like the Japanese plum tree (Prunus salicina) are highly sensitive.

One of the clearest symptoms of this plague is the exudations of gum on the fruit and / or its fall (thinning). Other symptoms of attack are the presence of holes in the fruit and bruised spots under the skin.

The larva makes several bites in the fruit before entering it to develop inside.

Normally three generations are produced each year, with the first generation appearing since the beginning of March, the second at the beginning of June and the third, partial, starting in July.

biology

Grapholita funebrana completes 1-3 generations per year; Two generations are more common in most of their range. Adults are present from the end of May to September.

Host plants

Grapholita funebrana is one of the most important lepidopteran pests of fruit in Europe. Larvae can cause significant damage to apricots, cherries, peaches, plums and other Prunus species.

Distribution

Native to Europe, Grapholita funebrana has spread to most other Palearctic fruit regions. It is currently present from Europe and North Africa in Asia Minor and Central Asia to China, Korea and Japan.

The monitoring of the pest by pheromones is key in the decision of the right moment to carry out a phytosanitary treatment, always with authorized products according to current legislation and in a rational manner.