The obliquebanded leafroller (OBLR) became an important pest of apples in NY during the mid-1970s, after develping resistance to commonly used insecticides, and is now a major pest throughout most temperate apple production regions. Early season damage from overwintering larvae feeding on fruit and flower clusters is not economically significant. The most serious injury from overwintering larvae occurs just prior to and shortly after petal fall, when the developing fruit is damaged. Many of these damaged fruits drop prematurely, but a small percentage remain on the tree, exhibiting deep corky scars and indentations at harvest. Larvae from all broods roll leaves into shelters and feed on surrounding foliage. The first summer brood larvae feed on the surface of developing fruit in late July and early August and cause superficial scarring on the fruit, ranging from tiny “pin-prick holes” to large excavations on the fruit’s surface.
We have conducted research on several aspects of OBLR biology and management, including sampling and monitoring studies, potential use of pheromones for mating disruption, and use of selective reduced-risk insecticides for control.
Publications & Resources
- Hsu, C. L., A. M. Agnello and W. H. Reissig. 2009. Edge effects in the directionally biased distribution of Choristoneura rosaceana in apple orchards. Environ. Entomol. 38: 433–441.
- Reissig, H., and A. Agnello. 2008. Potential new management techniques for obliquebanded leafroller: Large plot treatments and monitoring for fruit damage. N.Y. Fruit Quarterly 16 (2): 15-21.
- Comparison of Different Pheromone Release Systems for Mating Disruption of the Obliquebanded Leafroller Integrated With a Biorational Insecticide
- Agnello, A. M., W. H. Reissig, S. M. Spangler, R. E. Charlton and D. P. Kain. 1996. Trap response and fruit damage by obliquebanded leafroller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in pheromone-treated apple orchards in New York. Environ. Entomol. 25: 268-282.
- Lawson, D. S., W. H. Reissig, A. M. Agnello, J. P. Nyrop, and W. L. Roelofs. 1996. Interference with the mate-finding communication system of the obliquebanded leafroller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) using synthetic sex pheromones. Environ. Entomol. 25: 895-905.