Field Monitoring of Codling Moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), by Pheromone Traps in Bulgaria and Romania

Seasonal monitoring of the flight of codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (CM), was conducted by pheromone traps in the experimental apple orchards in Plovdiv (Central South Bulgaria) and in Bistrita (North Romania) in the years 2004-2006. The Pherocon traps of Trece, USA, with sticky changeable bottom, were used in Bulgaria. The dispensers were also products of Trece. In Romania pheromone traps and baits Atra-Pom, produced by the Institute of Chemistry "Raluca Ripan" in Cluj-Napoca, were employed. The earliest catches of CM in Bulgaria were recorded in the third decade of April in all years of the study. In Romania it occurred in the third decade of April in the years 2004 and 2005, but in the second decade of May in 2006. The mass flight of CM in Bulgaria was recorded in the years 2004 and 2005 in the first decade of May and continued through the second decade of June, whereas in 2006 it was in the second decade of May and in the third decade of June. In Romania the mass flight was recorded in the second decade of May and in the second decade of June in the years 2004 and 2005, whereas in 2006 it was noted at the beginning of June and in the third decade of June. In both countries the codling moth develops two generations per year. However, in Romania the first generation is more harmful than the second one, whereas in Bulgaria the second generation is more important. This is apparently related to different thermal conditions, due to location at different latitudes. The results obtained may be helpful for improvement of prognosing appearance of the pest and its control.