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How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

| More pests | More crops | About guidelines |

Adults and an egg mass of the orange tortrix, Argyrotaenia citrana.

Cherry

Orange Tortrix

Scientific Name: Argyrotaenia citrana

(Reviewed 4/06, updated 4/06)

In this Guideline:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PEST

The orange tortrix is found mainly in coastal areas. It overwinters as larvae inside fruit mummies or on alternative hosts and has two to four generations each year. Mustard family weeds are a favored host. Larvae are straw to light green caterpillars with brown heads. When disturbed, they wiggle backward and drop to the ground on a silken thread. Adults are light orange or tan moths with darker mottling on the forewings. Eggs are laid on leaves in overlapping rows that resemble fish scales.

DAMAGE

Larvae feed on leaves and buds. They also feed on fruit during late spring, resulting in shallow feeding damage. Leaves webbed together to form protective cases often indicate the presence of orange tortrix.

MANAGEMENT

Orange tortrix is a cyclical pest. In coastal orchards, natural enemies and treatments for other pests usually keep this pest controlled. In other areas treatment is not needed.

Biological Control
Several parasites and predators attack orange tortrix. The parasitic wasps Apanteles aristoteliae, Exochus, and Hormius basalis, the tachinid fly (Nemorilla pyste), spiders, and brown lacewings are the most important. These natural enemies usually keep orange tortrix populations under control.

Organically Acceptable Methods
Biological control and sprays of the Entrust formulation of spinosad are acceptable for use on an organically certified crop.

Monitoring and Treatment Decisions
Check the orchard in early spring for presence of larvae and feeding damage. Spray programs for scales and aphids generally help reduce populations. When necessary, apply an insecticide at petal fall or shortly thereafter.

Common name Amount to Use** P.H.I.+
(trade name) (conc.) (dilute) (days)
The following materials are listed in order of usefulness in an IPM program, taking into account efficacy and impact on natural enemies and honey bees. When choosing a pesticide, also consider information relating to environmental impact.
 
A. SPINOSAD
  (Entrust)# 1.71–2.5 oz 0.43–0.6 oz 7
  (Success) 6–8 oz 1.5–2 oz 7
  MODE OF ACTION: A microbial (Group 5)1 insecticide.
  COMMENTS: Most effective when applied at petal fall. This product is toxic to bees for 3 hours following treatment; apply in late evening after bees have stopped foraging. Do not apply more than 29 oz/acre/year of Success or 9 oz/acre/year of Entrust.
 
B. CARBARYL*
  (Sevin) XLR Plus 4 qt 1 qt 1
  MODE OF ACTION: A carbamate (Group 1A)1 insecticide.
  COMMENTS: May cause increased spider mite problems. Do not apply more than 14 qt Sevin XLR Plus/acre/season. The XLR PLUS formulation is less hazardous to honey bees than other formulations if applied from late evening to early morning when bees are not foraging.
 
C. DIAZINON* 50WP 3 lb 1 lb 21
  MODE OF ACTION: An organophosphate (Group 1B)1 insecticide.
  COMMENTS: Avoid drift and tailwater runoff into surface waters. Where cherries are grown adjacent to waterways, do not use this material.
 
 
**  For concentrate applications, use the amount given in 80–100 gal water/acre, or lower if the label allows; for dilute applications, amount is per 100 gal water to be applied in 300–400 gal water/acre, according to label.
+ Preharvest interval. Do not apply within this many days of harvest.
# Acceptable for organically grown produce.
* Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use.
1 Modes of action are important in preventing the development of resistance to pesticides. Rotate chemicals with a different mode-of-action group number, and do not use products with the same mode-of-action group number more than twice per season. For example, the organophosphates have a group number of 1B; chemicals with a 1B group number should be alternated with chemicals that have a group number other than 1B. Mode of action is assigned by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee). For additional information, see their Web site at http://www.irac-online.org/.

[Precautions]

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Cherry
UC ANR Publication 3440
Insects and Mites
R. A. Van Steenwyk, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley
K. M. Daane, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
J. A. Grant, UC Cooperative Extension, San Joaquin County

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Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See How to manage pests, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /PMG/r105300411.html revised: April 18, 2006. Contact webmaster.