The distribution of Liotryphon caudatus, a parasitoid of codling moth (Cydia pomonella) in Hawke's Bay apple orchards.

The ichneumonid parasitoid Liotryphon caudatus was introduced into New Zealand in 1906 for biological control of codling moth Cydia pomonella a pest of pipfruit Following release it was found in the Auckland area with only isolated recoveries in the 1970s in Waikato and Hawkes Bay In 2010 96 parasitism of codling moth by L caudatus in larvae collected from a Hawkes Bay orchard was recorded Liotryphon caudatus harvested from this collection were used to establish a laboratory colony for behavioural observations In 2011 15 sites across Hawkes Bay comprising abandoned organic and Integrated Fruit Production apple orchards were surveyed for the presence of L caudatus Cocooned codling moth larvae in corrugated cardboard bands were placed at each site for 3 weeks and assessed for parasitism Liotryphon caudatus was recovered from four of five abandoned orchards with up to 13 parasitism but was not found in either organic or IFP orchards