CONTROL OF CODLING MOTH LARVAE IN HARVESTED APPLES BY METHYL BROMIDE FUMIGATION AND COLD STORAGE

Abstract

AbstractAll codling moth larvae, Laspeyresia pomonella (L.), in 100,000 infested apples were killed by fumigation with 32 g/m3 methyl bromide for 2 h at about 17 °C followed by 31–35 days of storage at −0.5 °C. The apples were harvested into bins, fumigated, and placed in a standard cold storage room of a grower’s packinghouse as would be done under commercial conditions. Standard cold storage killed all first and second, and some third, instar larvae in nonfumigated fruit. Cursory sampling indicated that fumigation alone, without subsequent cold storage, could kill all stages. The fumigation and storage treatment did not injure Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Spartan, Jonathan, or Newtown apples.