Updated 04/24/09

Eric H. LaGasa¹, Diane MacLane², Jasmine Loucks², and Lisa Spurrier²

Background

Figure 1. Adult Male LBAM Figure 2. Male Genitalia Characters

Table 1. LBAM Trap Placement County Number of LBAM Trap Sites Whatcom 51 Skagit 41 Snohomish 39 King 52 Pierce 50 Thurston 41 Lewis 15 Cowlitz 20 Clark 51 Total 360

Native to Europe and Asia, the light-brown apple moth (LBAM) is a highly polyphagous foliage feeder that attacks many ornamental plants as well as grapes, apple, pear, and other fruit trees, damaging leaves and developing fruits (Figures 1, 2). To date LBAM has not been found in continental North America and, as an exotic pest threat to North American agriculture, is regulated by both the USDA and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

2004 Project Objective

Conduct pheromone-trap survey of populous western Washington for LBAM.

• Place and monitor pheromone-traps in areas of commercial, home orchard, and feral Malus, Pyrus, and Prunus culture.
• Screen and identify captured specimens, including non-target material.

Project Methods and Materials

Three hundred and fifty-seven pheromone-lure baited traps were placed in counties along the Interstate-5 corridor in western Washington, from the Canadian border south to Clark County on the Columbia River / Oregon border (Table 1). Traps were hung in roadside or residential yard trees, primarily in areas where home orchards could provide appropriate hosts.

Trap placement began in June and most traps were removed by the end of August. Traps were checked and pheromone lures changed every two weeks as much as possible during the expected (probable) period of adult flight. Traps with specimens were processed at the Olympia Entomology Lab, where suspect target and non-target specimens present were identified and counted.

Pherocon 2 type traps (a.k.a. "diamond" traps) were used in this survey, baited with pheromone-lures provided by the USDA APHIS Otis Methods Development Center. The PFM pheromone-lures consisted of gray rubber septa (West Co., Lionville, PA, cat. no. 1060-0275), each loaded with the following components:

E,11-14:AC / 0.962mg
E,9,11-14:AC / 0.038mg

Project Results

No LBAM specimens were collected in this survey.

A complete list of non-target species captured in this survey (22 spp. / 10,976 specimens) is available from the author.

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This survey was funded in part by a Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) grant from the USDA APHIS Western Region (#02-8553-0249-CA) and does not necessarily reflect APHIS' views. 1Eric LaGasa, Chief Entomologist, Pest Program / Plant Protection Division, Washington State Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, Washington 98504-2560, (360) 902-2063 PestProgram@agr.wa.gov 2Entomology Aides (Project) - Washington State Dept. of Agriculture, Olympia, Washington 98504-2560 This report is provided as a public resource for the detection and identification of insect pests described. This entire report, as well as individual graphic images, may be freely copied, distributed, and used in electronic and printed format as long as they are not modified for content or used for commercial purposes.