Orange fruit borer in rare fruit
David Astridge and Harry Fay
Description
Adult
 |
Larva of the orange fruitborer. |
Moth of the orange fruitborer (Isotenes miserana). |
The adult moths are light grey, speckled with small brown marks, bell-shaped when at rest, with a wingspan of 15 to 25 mm. They fly with a fluttering action mostly at night.
Immature stages
The scale-like eggs are laid in clusters under leaves. When fully grown the larvae are about 24 mm long brown on top and light grey underneath, with a dark brown head capsule and a pair of brown stripes along the body. They pupate within the silken shelter formed while feeding. The pupae are brown or green-brown, approximately 13 mm long and found on the foliage.
Life history
On hatching the young larva feeds on surface cells and soon constructs a silken webbed shelter. The life cycle takes four to six weeks and successive generations occur throughout the year. There are several generations in a year but activity is less in summer. All stages can be found in winter.
Distribution
Occurs widely throughout coastal Queensland.
Host range
Orange fruitborer feeds on many plants including avocados, citrus, feijoa and macadamia.
Management
Importance
Minor and sporadic.
Damage
Orange fruitborer causes damage to feijoa. The larvae chew and burrow into the fruit generally just below the skin and often near the calyx. Young and mature fruit can be attacked. Larvae roll flower buds and young leaves together to form feeding shelters. Larvae bore into maturing and ripe fruit causing it to fall and decay, sometimes they destroy new young fruit in spring. Young larvae may penetrate fruit just before harvest, and if undetected during packing, may cause the fruit to decay during marketing.
Action level
Spray if there is an average of 10 larvae per tree.
Control methods
Chemical
Spray.
Recommended chemicals
Carbaryl is registered on feijoa.
Note: This information was correct at the time of publication. However, it is the user's responsibility to ensure that registered agricultural chemicals are used in accordance with legal requirements. (See Further information). Always read the label.
Further information
-
Contact the DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 - local call 8 am to 6
pm Monday to Friday (non-Queensland residents phone 07 3404 6999). E-mail:
callweb@dpi.qld.gov.au
- Contact the DPI&F bookshop on 07 3239 3772 or DPI&F Shop-online or at some DPI&F offices throughout Queensland for the DPI&F publications
- Infopest CD-ROM contains current national information on registered agricultural chemicals and is available from Infopest, DPI&F, GPO Box 46, Brisbane Qld 4001 or by email from infopest@dpi.qld.gov.au
Recommended reading:
Hely, P.C., Pasfield, G. and Gellatley, J.G. 1982, Insect pests of fruit and vegetables in New South Wales Inkata Press, Sydney.
Swaine, G., Ironside, D.A. and Corcoran, R.J. 1991, Insect pests of fruit and vegetables , 2nd Edition, Department Primary Industries and Fisheries, Information Series QI91018.
Other contacts:
Growcom on 07 3620 3844
Growers interested in the production of minor tropical fruits can join their local branch of the Rare Fruits Council and subscribe to their newsletter. Contact the Rare Fruits Council at PO Box 1375 Aitkenvale 4814
The DPI&F library provides a personalised information search service that may be useful for producers seeking information on minor and exotic crops
DPI&F InfoResearch on 07 3239 6989.
Information contained in this publication is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought. The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the information in this publication is accurate at the time of publication. Readers should ensure that they make appropriate inquiries to determine whether new information is available on the particular subject matter.
Last updated 19 December 2005
