Bionomics of Codling Moth: Number of Generations

Bionomics of Codling Moth

Number of Generations

The codling moth has one to five (fifth one mostly partial) generations per year in different parts of the world. It occurs over a broad range of latitudes in the northern as well as southern hemisphere and is found in diverse climates ranging from cold temperature to warm mediterranean. The Codling Moth is a mutivoltine species (Riedl, 1983). Depending on the latitude or elevation, codling moth may complete one (e.g. Canada, some parts of Russia and UK), two [Northwestern USA (Setyobudi, 1989), South Africa (Nel, 1985), Pakistan (Bajwa, 1985), etc.], three/four [California (Benthall, 1978)] or five [Israel (Janjua, 1958)] generations a year. The number of generations gradually increases toward the southern latitude in the Northern Hemisphere and towards the north in the Southern Hemisphere. Seasonal history of the codling moth on a three and a partial four generations per year phenology is given in Figure 1.

In the United States, in some states such as Wisconsin, Minnesota and northern parts of the belt of Oklahoma there is one generation, while in New York (Chapman and Lienk, 1971), there is one full and one partial generation in a year. The codling moth typically has two generations throughout most of its distribution in the Pacific Northwest, though in warm years two and a partial third generation can occur. In southern Oregon, two and a partial third generation is more common. In California, the norm is three generations; in warm years a partial forth is possible. In some parts of southern California, up to five generations of codling moth are possible (Barnes et al. 1991). In Kansas and southwestern Idaho, there are three generations (Janjua, et al, 1958). In South Carolina, there are four broods in a year (Nettles, 1934). In Pakistan and India, there are one and a partial second generation is some places, and two and a partial third generation in some other places (Bajwa, 1985). There are two generations and a partial third in South Africa (Nel, 1983). There is one generation in Tasmania (Australia); two broods in South Australia and two generations and a partial third in New south Wales (Mathews and Kitching, 1984). In Columbia, there are two complete and a third partial brood in a year (Haseman et al, 1936). In Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), at certain places, there are one to two generations (Aristov, 1936) at other, two to three (Janjua, et al, 1958).

Figure 1. Seasonal history of the codling moth on a three and a partial four generations per year phenology [South Carolina & southern California (USA)]