Mass Rearing of the Oriental Fruit Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Oriental fruit moth, Crapholita molesta (Busck), was reared on modifications of a previously developed small lima bean diet. Initial experiments showed that different types of beans substituted for lima beans produced similar yields of oriental fruit moth pupae. Fresh, thinning apples provided the best diet for high yields and high pupal weights, but apple quality degenerates with time, producing poorer quality pupae. Modifications of the bean diet resulted in quality production of >1,000 pupae per 4-liter jar, allowing year-long maintenance of the colony that could not be accomplished on apples alone. Tolerance of oriental fruit moth to methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, sorbic acid, and benomyl (Benlate) preservatives in the diet was determined.