Phytosanitary Host Status of Apples as a Host for False Codling Moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Recent publications suggest that apples, Malus domestica Borkh., and pears Pyrus communis L., are hosts for false codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Timm 2005; Timm et al. 2007; Timm et al. 2010). In these publications Blomefield (1989) and Newton (1998) are cited. However, these last two authors did not actually mention apples or pears as hosts for T. leucotreta. This error has also been alluded to in a recent T. leucotreta pest risk analysis (EPPO 2013). In addition, a personal communication with A.E. Timm(a.timm@ru.ac.za) confirmed that she had only caught T. leucotreta in pheromone traps in apple and pear orchards, and had not obtained material directly from infested fruit.