International Journal of Biological

Research and Development (IJBRD)

ISSN(P): 2250-0022; ISSN(E): Applied
Vol. 6, Issue 2, Apr 2016, 1-8
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POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THE CODLING MOTH CYDIA POMONELLA

(LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE) ON TWO APPLE VARIETIES IN ALGERIA
GUERMAH DYHIA & MEDJDOUB-BENSAAD FERROUDJA
Production Laboratory, Protect Endangered Species and Crops, Department of Biology
Animal and Plant, Tizi Ouzou, Algeria
ABSTRACT
This study focuses on the biology of codling moth Cydia pomonella as well as the estimated damage caused by
the pest on apple varieties Anna and Golden delicious in the region of Tizi-Ouzou. The male capture method using sex
pheromone traps demonstrated the existence of 3 generations. The method of capture by traps strips provided information
on a large number of diapausing larvae. The damage caused by this pest varied from a variety to another. Golden
delicious variety presented higher infestation rates, due to caterpillars of the third generation that caused the fall of
attacked fruits.
KEYWORDS: Cydia pomonella, Apple Tree, Anna, Golden Delicious and Tizi-Ouzou

INTRODUCTION
The codling moth Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a key enemy of apple orchards in the
world and can damage almost any culture if it is not mastered (Knoscfield, 2000). It is considered as a major pest in
all producing regions in the world, and constitutes a permanent part of the natural fauna apple (Coutin, 1960). To

Original Article

Received: Jan 30, 2016; Accepted: Feb 22, 2016; Published: Feb 29, 2016; Paper Id.: IJBRDAPR20161

fight against this pest only a chemical control and using of pheromone traps are applicated. The use of pesticides in
agriculture represents a significant danger to human health and the environment accompanied with the development
of pest resistance phenomena. In Algeria, damages caused by the codling moth were noted for the first time in
Tlemcen in 1930 by Delassus et al. confirmed by Frezal 1939; the Batna region has registered a percentage of
damage of 18.9% caused by the pest C. pomonella during 2007 (DSA).
The objective of our study is to identify aspects of the codling moth bio ecology C. pomonella and to estimate the
damage caused by this pest in the Tizi-Ouzou region upon two apple varieties Anna and Golden delicious.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our study was conducted in two fields, which are represented by Anna variety in the plot I and Golden
delicious in plot II, in the region of Tizi-Ouzou (36 43 00 North et 4 03 00 Est) in Algeria witch characterized
by a Mediterranean climate with mild winter on temperate floor bioclimatic.
Sexual Trapping of Adults
Attractive sex pheromone traps were used to monitor the progress of flights (qualitative forecasting),
follow the pest dynamics and to estimate the level of pest population (C. pomonella).

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Guermah Dyhia & Medjdoub-Bensaad Ferroudja

Sexual trap consisted of a plate coated with glue which was deposited on a capsule containing the specific
pheromone: (E,E)-8,10-Dodecadien-1-ol which attracts the males that enter the delta trap and become trapped in the sticky
area. The device was attached by a wire to the tree foliage, placed at eye level. The installation of the trap was carried out
15 days after fruit set to determine the date of onset of the first generation.
The range of these traps is hundred meters to several kilometers (Trematerra et al., 2004). The observations were
carried out once a week during 6 months (from April until the end of September 2014). For each output, the date of catches
and the total number of captured butterflies of each variety for both study plots were mentioned.
Monitoring Oviposition
To follow the egg laying of C. pomonella females a sampling of apple leaves was performed upon 100 trees for
each variety in both studied plots following the cardinal points. Ten leaves per cardinal point were collected and followed
by the examining of the upper and lower face leaves of corymbs and leaves outside the corymbs. The eggs counting were
done regularly, once a week in the laboratory under the binocular microscope.
Trapping Larvae by Traps Bands
Thirty trap strips were installed at 30 trees per plot with 20 trees inside the line and 10 trees in the edge of line in
each quadrant station. Installing traps took place during June following the host plant phenology. The trap consisted of a
strip of cardboard honeycomb (20 cm wide), set around the trunk with a string distant about thirty centimeters from the
soil; the corrugated portion was placed against the trunk. These traps can capture the larvae that completed their growth,
when they leave the fruits in search of shelter to pupate and overwinter. From mid-October to mid-November, the traps
were removed and the pupae were counted upon the bands.
Estimation of Damaged Fruits upon Trees
For counting, the method recommended by Charmillot (1980); Audemard et al. (1990) and Trillot (2002) was
used. It consists to observe a number of 500 fruits from each plot with 10 fruits per tree upon 50 trees per plot spreaded
throughout the fruiting period.
Estimated Damage on Fallen Fruits
Apples attacked by this micro-moth frequently fall to the ground from at some level of evolution of the attack
(Audemard, 1973). The collection method performed consists to collect 200 fallen fruits from the ground every week. The
picked fruits were cut to distinguish the number of apples with codling moth attack from fallen fruits dues to other causes.
The application of this method was spreaded from June until harvest covering the fruiting period of each variety.
Statistical Analysis
An analysis of variance two or more classification criteria is performed to compare the results obtained between
Anna variety and Golden delicious variety, using the STATBOX version 6.4 software.
When ANOVA shows a significant difference, it is complemented by NEWMAN and KEULS test at the 5%
threshold. If the probability (P) is:

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Population Dynamics of the Codling Moth Cydia Pomonella

(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on Two Apple Varieties in Algeria

-P>0,05: variables show no significant difference.

-P0,05: variables show a significant difference.
-P0,01: Variables show a highly significant difference.
-P0,001: The variables show a very highly significant difference

RESULTS
Sexual Trapping of Adults
Results of C. pomonella adult catches in the two studied plots by applying the sexual trapping method using a
pheromone diffuser (Figure 1) revealed that the period of activity of a codling moth presented three main generations
overlapping at least for six months of study.
The first flight occurred from mid-April to late May, the second began from June until mid-July and the third one
started from mid-July and ends in late September. A close connection was made between the different phenological stages
of the host plant and the pest development.

Figure 1: Codling Moth C. POMONELLA Flight UPON Two Apple

Varieties: Anna and Golden Delicious in Tizi-Ouzou Region
Eggs Enumeration
Monitoring the temporal evolution of the number of eggs laid by C. pomonella females on apple leaves of both
varieties, indicated the nesting activity of codling moth period which confirmed that the pest had three generations per year
overlapping on period of six months, from April to September 2014 (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Temporal Evolution of the Number of Eggs Laid by the Codling Moth Female upon
Anna and Golden Delicious Varieties in Tizi-Ouzou Region During 2014

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Guermah Dyhia & Medjdoub-Bensaad Ferroudja

Trapping Larvae by Traps Bands

The total number of larvae using traps bands was of 107 individuals. A number of 37 larvae was recorded for
Anna variety while it was of 70 larvae for Golden delicious variety.
Individuals high number enregistred of in the Golden delicious variety could be explained by the use of chemical
treatments in an irregular manner at non compliance doses. This study allowed us to show that the population of diapausing
larvae in traps bands was important (figure 3).

Figure 3: Larvae Number Caught by Traps Bands in Anna and the Golden
Delicious Varieties Plots in the Tizi-Ouzou Region During 2014
Fruits Damage Estimate upon Trees
Observations began in early June, after the apparition of the first fruit perforations; attacks caused by C.
pomonella on the two varieties were recorded (Figure 4). A first checks showed with a percentage of damaged fruits of
2.44% on the Anna variety and 0.9% on the Golden delicious variety.
Losses due to the larvae of the second generation were more important, reaching a rate of 4.44% on Anna variety
and 10.44% on Golden delicious variety. The losses increased over time, reaching 5.12% and 17.25% in Anna and Golden
delicious varieties respectively. They were caused by caterpillars of the third generation. Most of the fruits attacked by
caterpillars of the third generation fall to the ground, explaining the attacks magnitude during the last checks upon Golden
delicious which is a late variety.

Figure 4: Percentage of Fruit on Trees Attacked on Two Varieties

(Golden Delicious and Anna) in the Tizi-Ouzou Region During 2014

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Population Dynamics of the Codling Moth Cydia Pomonella

(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on Two Apple Varieties in Algeria

Estimated Damage from Fallen Fruit

Results obtained for the fruits fallen on the ground and attacked by C. pomonella on two varieties (Golden
delicious and Anna) are shown in Figure 5. Observations began in 1st June and falls in both plots since first checks were
recorded with rates of 2.33% on the Anna variety and 0.9% over the Golden delicious variety. Losses due to the larvae of
the second generation were higher and reached levels of 2.88% on Anna variety and 19.09% on Golden delicious variety.
They increased over time, reaching 5.66% and 19.97% in both study plots respectively; these attacks were caused by the
third generation caterpillars. Noting that in normal conditions of an apple orchard, the fruit can fall for different causes like
climatic factors, agricultural hazards, codling moth.

Figure 5: Percentage of Fallen Fruit Attacked by C. pomonella Larvae in Both Plots

(Anna and Golden Delicious) in Tizi-Ouzou Region in 2014
Statistic Analysis
Damage Fruits upon Trees
The analysis of variance two criteria classifications reveals a highly significant difference for the variety factor
(P= 0, 00238), and no significant differences for the time factor (P=0, 51647).
The NEWMAN and KEULS test class two factors in two homogeneous groups (Table 1).
Table 1: NEWMAN and KEULS Test Results Concerning Damages from Fruits upon Trees
F1

Libelles
Golden
2.0
delicious
1.0 Anna

Moyennes
8,379

Groupes Homogenes
A

1,986

Damage from Fallen Fruits

The analysis of variance two criteria classifications reveals a highly significant difference for the variety factor
(P= 0, 00197), and no significant differences for the time factor (P=0, 38329).
The NEWMAN and KEULS test class two factors in two homogeneous groups (Table 2).
Table 2: NEWMAN and KEULS Test Results Concerning Damages from Fallen Fruits
F1
2.0
1.0

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Libelles
Golden
delicious
Anna

Moyennes
10,298
1,977

Groupes Homogenes
A
B

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DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

The monitoring of the bio-ecology of codling moth by sexual trapping method and the egg counting method
showed the existence of three generations per year that last six months, from April until September 2014. The first flight
occurred from mid-April to late May, the second began from June until mid-July and the third occurred from mid-July to
late September. A delay of adult onset of one to two weeks was recorded in the Tizi-Ouzou region on the two varieties
studied in 2014. The emergence of the first generation occurred at varying dates depending on breaking diapause and pupal
development time which depends on the climatic factors.
Male catches by pheromone traps indicated a total of 120 individuals including 39 individuals and 81 individuals
for Anna and Golden delicious varieties respectively. It is noteworthy that the number of adults in the third generation was
the largest represented by 50 individuals of which 27 were captured on Golden delicious. Monitoring the temporal
evolution of the number of eggs laid by C. pomonella females on apple leaves indicated a total of 55 individuals, including
29 individuals for Golden delicious and 26 individuals for Anna variety. It is noteworthy that the number of adults in the
third generation was the largest represented by 13 individuals on both varieties.
Our results corroborate those obtained by Belkadi and Hamli (1998), on apple orchards in Ain-touta (Algeria)
which revealed the existence of three generations with a spread flight activity between the beginning of April and the end
of September. By contrast, in Tunisia, Gabtini (1995) points 3 to 4 generations. In France, Ramade (1984) and Toubon
(2008) found that there is an evolution of the populations of codling moth and orientation to a viable third generation in the
South and a second generation in the North. According to Hamimina (2007), the generation number changes depending on
the altitude; it decreases when it increases, the cause may be related to the temperature which according to Seltzer (1946),
decreases by 3 degrees every 100 m of altitude.
The stop flights in the early autumn was noticed for all the study areas, it varied from one region to another and
usually coincided with the fruit harvest and the period of diapause larvae last flight.
Codling moth trapping with the sex pheromone allowed us to capture 20 to 30 for Anna and Golden delicious
varieties respectively; this could be considered as one of the methods that could help to predict the risk of attack through
rational chemical control apple orchard. Indeed, Mansour and Mohamed (2000) used pheromone traps in Syria as a means
to fight against C. pomonella thereby reducing the pesticide application number from 2 to 6 times.
The capture of diapausing larvae traps bands allowed us to count 107 individuals of which 70 captured on Golden
delicious variety and 37 upon Anna variety. According to Coutin (1962), the band traps method allows to capture most of
the overwintering larvae that reach the trunk, and thus could be used as mechanical control means to reduce them.
According to Balachowsky and Mesnil (1935), caterpillars overwinter on the tree when it is old and cracked and offers in
its bark many shelters. Clean and smooth trunk trees are neglected; mostly caterpillars overwinter along the ground
between clumps and under stones. In our case, most of the larvae captured by traps bands took place on trees having
generally smooth trunks. Regarding the manpower captured in our field, observations revealed the presence of a significant
number of diapausing larvae on the land borders of Golden delicious. The significant presence of these larvae may be due
to chemical treatments used irregularly in time and can be unfitted by the resistance of codling moth to the chemicals used.
Fruits attacks were recorded in the two plots since the first checks enregistering a percentage of 2.44% on Anna
variety and 0.90% over Golden delicious variety. Losses due to the larvae of the second generation are more important,
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Population Dynamics of the Codling Moth Cydia Pomonella

(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on Two Apple Varieties in Algeria

reaching a rate of 4.44% and 10.44% knew Anna Golden delicious. These attacks are increasing over time, reaching 5.12%
and 17.25% respectively in the two varieties. These attacks are caused by caterpillars of the third generation. If the losses
are greater than 4% or between 1 and 4% but spread over the whole area, setting traps strips is recommended on any plot
trees (Roubal et al., 2004), This shows the relationship between the larvae and the damage noted on fruit.
The fruit picking method revealed that the percentage of attack increased according to the time and the number of
generations. Fruit falls were recorded in both plots since the first control showing rates of 2.33% on Anna variety and
0.90% on Golden delicious variety. Losses due to the larvae of the second generation were higher and reached levels of
5.66% and 20.15% on Anna and Golden delicious varieties respectively. However, attacks could be harsher indeed Belkadi
and Hamli (1998), recorded damage of about 55 to 93% in Ain-touta (Algeria). It is therefore necessary to conduct regular
pickups fallen fruit because the larvae leave them and go quickly to pupate.
Comparing to previous years, it should be noted that Tizi-Ouzou region registered a major production in 2014 due
to favorable weather conditions and the absence of frosts. Furthermore, other factors could be involved in the reduction of
protection of the apple orchards like maintenance problem and controls of the bio aggressor C. pomonella.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am grateful to my colleagues Medjdoub-Bensaad Ferroudja, Goucem Karima and my mother Guermah Sekoura
for their assistance and their helpful advice.
This research is part the ongoing project Evolutionary about bioecology of Cydia pomonella in Algeria
(Tizi-Ouzou University.)
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