DIURNAL BEHAVIOR OF THE APPLE BLOTCH LEAFMINER MOTH, PHYLLONORYCTER CRATAEGELLA (LEPIDOPTERA: GRACILLARIIDAE)

Abstract

AbstractObservations of apple blotch leafminer moths, Phyllonorycter crataegella (Clemens), during daylight hours in commercial apple orchards in New England from 1982 through 1984 indicated a diurnal pattern of activity. Substantial flight in the morning, almost exclusively by males, was associated with mating, and lesser flight from midafternoon until darkness, predominantly by females, was associated with oviposition. Moths were comparatively inactive during midday hours, at which time they were located primarily on the lower third of the tree trunk during the first moth flight (overwintering generation moths), and on leaves during the second and third moth flights (first and second generation moths, respectively). Moths were concentrated at the inner half of the tree canopy during all three moth flights, and especially below 1.5 m height during the first moth flight.