\ Pulling Out the Evil by the Root: the Codling Moth Cydia pomonella Eradication SP00191 Programme in CNPUV 200" '\. KOVALESKI' and J. MUMFORD2 SP-08.00191 'Embrapa Uva e Vinho, Estação Experimental de Vacaria, Caixa Postal 1513, CEP 95200-000, Vacaria, RS, Brazil 21mperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot SL5 7PY, UK

ABSTRACT Since thc codling moth Cydia pomonella (L.) was dctcctcd in parts ofthc Brazilian applc growing arca a series of survcillance and control actions have been carried out. Firstly, a trapping survey deterrnined the extent to which the pest had spread in Brazil. Pheromonc traps were ser up and serviced during one season throughout the temperare fruit growing region, at ports of entry and in the main south- em commcrcial centres (São Paulo, Florianópolis, Santos, Curitiba). This trapping dcrnonstratcd that only urban arcas within four municipalities were afTected: Vacaria, Bom Jesus, and Lagcs. Except for the last, the afTected municipalities are importam apple growing regions, with more than 3000 hectares of apples cach. In 199811999, a pilot project of population suppression was undertaken in these afTected arcas, applying lure-and-kill (rnalc annihilation). This technique proved to be highly etTicient in reducing codling moth populations. Results cncouraged the claboration of a scries of scicntific projccts and the dcvclopmcnt of a plan to cradicatc the codling moth from Brazil. The programmc has severa I cornponcnts: (I) cornmercial apple orchards adoptcd dctcction trapping to idcntify any ncw invasion cvcnt, (2) rcmoval of host and potcntial hOSItrecs in urban arcas and rcplaccrncnt by non-host trccs in many cases adopted as an altemative to direct population suppression in the urban arcas, and (3) the potential use of the sterilc insect technique (SIT) in certain arcas. The host tree rcmoval carnpaign led to a significant decrease in codling moth populations as evidenced by the decrease in the nurnbcr of catches in phcromone-baitcd rraps used for monitoring. The rnain constraints to the dcvclopmcnt of the eradication prograrnmc were bureau- cratic and lcgislativc, Laek of funds and of national legislation on scmiochcmicals jeopardized effective actions. In this report, updated data are prcsentcd on codling moth population dynamics in four infested arcas as well as an ovcrall cvaluation of the survey and control activities carried out thus far.

KEY WORDS Cydia pomonella, codling rnoth, SIT, host availability, lure-and-kill, eradication, Brazil, apple, host rcrnoval, biological invasion

1. Historical Background males were trapped ar the same location. In January 1993, traps were set up in other The codling moth Cydia pomonella (L) is a municipalities near Vacaria, but no moths quarantine pest of apples in Brazil. Given its were rrapped. At that time, pheromone traps importance in other apple growing countries, were not available in Brazil and had to be efforts to monitor for possible incursions start- imported from Chile. Only in 1997-1998 did ed in the I980s, using a few traps which traps become available and could be deployed invariably retumed zero catches. Tn 1991, a at the appropriate time of lhe season, in early single pheromone-baited trap was deployed in September. a domestic orchard in lhe urban area of The programme faced several early obsta- Vacaria, . One male codling eles, sue h as lack of undcrstanding about the moth was caught and again in 1992, two importance of preventing lhe colonization and 581 MJB. Vreysen,A.S Robinson and J Hendrichs (eds.), Area-Wide Contrai of lnsect Pests, 581 590. © 2007 IAEA. 582 A. KOVALESKI AND J. MUMFORD

J • ttot"''''''9'~'·9Qn clnt:oIw1?:oIfrutl;

Figure I. Delimiting survey ofCydia pomonella in the three southern states of Brazil and São Paulo. (Iefl) Municipalities where traps were deployed indicating major apple growing regions (red circles), minor apple growing areas (green cireles) and points of entry of fresh fruits from Uruguay, Argentina and Chile (arrows), and (right) uninfested (black cireles) and infested municipalities (red cireles).

spread of a new apple pest in Brazil. This was followed with researchers, control officials tumed around by the dynamism of apple and growers joining efforts to prevent the growers who, aware of the importance of the establishment and spread of a new pest. This codling moth in other countries, provided paper presents an overview of the codling financial support to official actions to prevent moth control programme in Brazil since its establishment. The plant protection actions detection of the pest in the urban area of Bom of the Ministry of Agriculture were improved, Jesus, as well as forthcoming activities. and the inspection of imported temperate fruits became routine at ali ports of entry. 2. Detection Trapping ow, 15 years after the first detection of C. pomonella in Brazil, the programme is quoted Detection trapping was initiated during the throughout the country as an example to be 1980s, with a few traps baited with codling

6

5 ,'#~ 4 r-: ,/..\ 3 · · 2 ·I ,"'" ;.~" .

o L-__~~~ ~ ~'~~'~'-=-~-~ _

5/9 9126 10117 1117 11128 12119 119 113012120 3113 413 4124 5115

---- 97/98 ...... 98/99 - 99/00

Figure 2. Population dynamics of the codling moth in Lages, Santa Caterina, Brazil, as indi- cated by weekly male catches in pheromone-baited Iraps (1997-2000). CODUNG MOTH ERADICATION PROGRAMME IN BRAZIL 583

Table J. Number of traps deployed in lhe urban areas of the four municipalities affected by lhe codling moth in Brazil.

Pcriod Vacaria Lagcs Bom Jesus Caxias do Sul

1998/1999 to 2003/2004 4001 400 1001 1801 2004/2005 400 1700 200 400 2005/2006 1100 1700 400 550

1Ineompletc data due to laek of traps in some years

moth sex pheromone. The first male was 3. Population Dynamics caught in October 1991. Another two males were caught in the same domestic orchard in In Brazil, adult codling moths are first trapped October 1992. In January 1993, the number of in September and the population peaks from traps was increased to 32 but no males were late October to mid Oecember. Laboratory caught. In 1994-1995, a network of detection observations corroborate these data on the traps was deployed in the field, ranging from onset and peak of adult emergence and also the southemmost region of the country to São indicate that 95% of field-collected larvae Paulo (Fig. I). enter diapause which may last for up to two Four municipalities were defined as affect- years (Fig. 2). ed: three in the state of Rio Grande do Sul This univoltine pattem differs from that (Vacaria, Bom Jesus and Caxias do Sul) and described in other South American countries, one in the state of Santa Catarina (Lages). where the pest is bivoltine. A possible expla- Monitoring in urban areas of affected munici- nation is the shorter photoperiod during sum- palities was carried out with synthetic mer, due to the lower latitude of the 8razilian pheromone-baited traps (Table I). apple growing area compared with more With the establishment of integrated fruit southerly regions in South America. Thus, production, detection trapping was adopted as regardless of the adopted methodology an an obligatory action throughout the 30000 eradication programme should concentrate hectares of commercial apple production. actions from October to January. Growers are in charge of trap deployment and service and they receive training on codling 4. Lure-and-Kill Pilot Project moth identi fication. They are also instructed to bring to Embrapa Uva e Vinho, in Vacaria, The delimiting survey demonstrated that the any trapped individuaIs that may resemble the codling moth was restricted to four urban codling moth. areas. The use of chemical control was In commercial areas located less than 30 deemed unacceptable due to the potential haz- kilometres from urban areas where the ard it could present. There were few altema- codling moth was detected, a density of one tives: the sterile insect technique was not trap per five hectares is adopted. In other areas available in Brazil, nor were pheromone- the recommendation is one trap per ten based techniques due to lack of registered hectares. To date, there are no records of materiais. codling moth males being trapped in Brazilian Brazil did not have a specific legislation commercial apple orchards. Inspection proce- for pheromones and their registration had to dures are submitted to extemal audits by the follow the same procedures adopted for pesti- Plant Protection Service in the states of Santa cides. However, in 1998, the Ministry of Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. Agriculture of Brazil responded to the prob- 584 A. KOVALESKI AND J. MUMFORD

R.tMOVAL cr HOST TREES i..:.

200212003 2(})512006

Figure 3. Cydia pomonella population density in the urban area of Vacaria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 1997-2006 as revealed through trap catches. 1n 1998-1999, lure-and-kill was applied throughout the urban area and partially in 2000-2001. ln 2002-2003 host plant replacement was initiated and in 2005-2006, only 0.6% of the original host plants remained in the urban area.

lem and allowed an urgent importation of clear that lure-and-kill itselfwould not be suf- pheromone dispensers which were used to ficient to prevent further population build up. attract males to paper panels impregnated Lure-and-kill was applied a second time in with naled, an organophosphate with long Vacaria during 2000-200 I and in Bom Jesus residual effect. in 2003-2004 in those locations identified as The technique was applied throughout the having high infestation levels. Difficulties in urban areas of Vacaria and Bom Jesus and in registration of pherornone-based techniques part of the urban area of Lages. Results were and high costs led the working group involved immediately positive and promising. In 1998- in the programme to focus on a second tech- 1999, the population density of C. pomonella nique, the removal and replacement of host in Vacaria and Bom Jesus was reduced to less plants from urban areas. than 5% of that observed in 1997-1998. Nevertheless, in 1999-2000, there were nei- 5. Host Plant Replacement ther funds nor pheromone dispensers avail- able and the control operations could not be It was hypothesized that the elimination of continued. The codling moth population den- host plants from urban areas would reduce the sity increased in that season, although not to codling moth population. Activities were the levels observed in 1997-1998, but it was started in Lages in 200 I and in Vacaria in

Table 2. Number of host plants and potential host plants removed and the estimated number remaining in lhe urban areas of the four aJJected municipalities.

Municipality Urban area Trees replaced Trees remaining Trees removed (hectares) J (no.) (no.) (%)

Lages 12000 34500 200 99.4 Vacaria 6000 16020 600 96.4 Bom Jesus 1000 1700 300 85.0 Caxias do Sul 60000 37609 22391 62.7 Tolal 89829 23491 86.9

J Approximatc values CODUNG MOTH ERADICATIO PROGRAMME IN BRAZIL 585

15'-~13~.6N6~------'

lure-and-k!ll (total urban area) host plant removal

4.81

0.~5 0.25

1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 :000/01 :003/04 :004/05 :005/06

Figure 4. Number of codling moth males per trap from 1997-1998 10 2005-2006 in Vacaria. Few traps were usedfor monitoring in 2001-2002 and 2002-2003. For this reason, data are not inc/uded in this graph.

2002. In Vacaria, the replacement of host rnunication media such as local radio stations plants occurred centripetally to avoid the dis- and newspapers was crucial for the success of persal of codling rnoth from the urban area to the carnpaign. Residents became aware of the orchards located nearby. In bOIh areas, lhe irnportance of the apple crop in nearby areas work was supported by apple growers and the and of the negative irnpact that codling moth Ministry of Agriculrure of Brazil, with both establishrnent would have on the economy of groups allocating personnel, funds, and equip- the region. ment to the carnpaign mainly during the apple The impact of host removal on trap caiches off-season. The number of trees removed and was irnrnediate and long-lasting. Taking replaced and the estirnated number of rernain- Vacaria as an example, after the onset of ing trees is summarized in Table 2. actíons to eradicate host plants in 2002, the At this point the cooperation of mass-com- highest codl ing rnoth population density

39.5 40 lure-end-kill (partial urban ar ea) host plant remova I 30 o. ~ ~3.2 ~ " ~o ":::

10 5.3

0.25 O.O:?5 o 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 ~000/01 "00110" :00""03 :003/04 :004105 :005/06

Figure 5. Number of codling moth males per trap from 1997-1998102005-2006 in Lages. 586 A. KOVALESKI ANO J. MUMFORD

7 6.120 6 lure-and-kill 5 (total urban area) host plant remova I c. g 4 Ui <1> tii 3 ::;: 2

0.215I 0I.225 0.015 0.000 O 1997/98 1998/99 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06

Figure 6. Number of codling moth males per trapfrom 1997-1998 to 1998-1999 andfrom 2003-2004 to 2005-2006 in Bom Jesus.

decreased from approximately two males per (September 1999 to March 2002), the popula- trap per week in 1997-1998 to 0.02 males per tion density increased following the suspen- trap per week in 2005-2006 (Fig. 3). Similar sion of lure-and-kill actions. During the spring results were observed in Bom Jesus, Lages of 2002, host trees were replaced by non-host and Caxias do Sul (see section 6). trees in the urban area of Vacaria. The impact of this action was promptly realized in greatly 6. Monitoring reduced trap catches in subsequent years (Fig. 4). Monitoring in commercial and urban areas of Lages had the highest initial codling moth the temperate fruit growing region of Brazil density, with almost 40 males per trap during had been conducted since the early I990s, but the 1997-1998 season (Fig. 5). A partial appli- 1997-1998 can be considered as the starting cation of lure-and-kill was accomplished in point of systematic monitoring. 1998-1999 but the population density was The four areas showed different population high during the next five seasons of monitor- densities at the beginning of the systematic ing, with mean densities close to or higher monitoring in 1997 (Figs. 4-7). In 1998-1999, than 20 males per trapo In 2003, almost 30 000 lure-and-kill was applied in the urban areas of host plants were replaced by non-host trees in Vacaria, Bom Jesus and Lages. In Vacaria, Lages. As was observed in Vacaria, this action 20000 killing panels were set up in the urban had a profound impact on the population, with area. These inverted V-shaped panels had an a marked reduction in abundance. internal surface covered with stick. The paper In Bom Jesus, Rio Grande do Sul, lure- panel and adhesive surface were dipped in an and-kill was applied during the spring of organophosphate insecticide. After insecticide 1998-1999. Trapping data show that although impregnation, a pheromone dispenser was the population density at the beginning of the attached to the system with a pino The impact programme was very high it was reduced to of lure-and-kill during the 1998-1999 season almost undetectable levels in 2004-2005 and was clear: the codling moth population was to zero in 2005-2006 (Fig. 6). reduced to almost undetectable levels. It is During the same period, the codling moth reasonable to suppose also that monitoring was monitored in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande traps may have been affected by the presence do Sul. ln this municipaliry, suppression of a large number of pheromone dispensers in actions were not undertaken until 2004-2005 killing panels. In the three subsequent seasons when host tree removal was initiated. Actions CODUNG MOTH ERADICATION PROGRAMME fN BRAZIL 587

4 3.75

host plant removal 3

0.15 00:2 o 199,/98 1998/99 2004/05 ::'005/06

Figure 7. Number 01 male codling moths per Irap from 1997-199810 1998-1999 and from 2004-2005 10 2005-2006 in Caxias do Sul.

in Caxias do Sul were delayed beeause it is a 8. Benefit/Cost Analysis much larger urban area and the fact that agri- culture plays a much less important role in the The first assessment of benefits and costs eeonomy of the municipality. In 2005-2006, associated with C pomonella eradication in the population density was markedly reduced Brazil indicated that if the no aetion scenario (Fig. 7). Here, since a signi ficant proportion was chosen, the codling moth would beco me of city residents did not agree with the established in commercial orchards and lead replacement of host plants, other techniques to control costs much higher than those esti- may have to be employed to ensure eradica- mated for an eradication programme based on tion, such as the SIT host plant replacement and lure-and-k ill (Kovaleski et aI. 200 I). 7. External Quarantine Actions A spreadsheet model was produced by Murnford (2005) to provide a basis for a ben- In 2004, after several meetings involving the efitJcost analysis for codling rnoth eradication Brazilian and Argentinean plant protection in Brazil based on data from Kovaleski et aI. agencies, an inspection protocol was irnple- (2005) and interviews with growers and offi- mented in the packinghouses in Argentina that cials involved in the monitoring and eradica- market fresh apples and pears to Brazil. They tion. The model is a stochastic simulation had to be able to demonstrare that fruits origi- model based on best estimates of parameters nated from areas of low codling moth preva- likely to affeet the values of production and lence or, in cases in which they did not, that control of codling moth host crops (apple, growers had adopted effective control meth- pear and quince) in the three southem states of ods. This decreases the risk of new invasion Brazil, and the options and costs of eradica- events as Argentina is the main supplier of tion in the four affected urban areas in Brazil. fresh pears to Brazil. AIso, an inspeetion rou- Fig. 8 illustrates an output. The potential loss- tine of pome and stone fruit shipments from es to the fruit industry in Brazil if eradieation ali other countries was established at borders, or containment is not achieved in the urban airports and ports. areas are very significant, with an estimated 588 A. KOVALESKI AND 1. MUMFORD

Codling moth direct loss + control cost

20.0

15.0 c --+-se .2 .. __-_-RFRS 10.0 ~ •••• I...Xnan (f) 5.0 => 0.0 .-4, -,I 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 Year (2005/6)

Coreca'o( NPV Orchard irnpact (ba93)

10.000 Tnals Frequency 2hal1 10.000 C;splayec

.043 .,------,------,. üJ

032 ...••. .~ J!J 022 til .c .O.. o, 011

000

125 O

i.JS$Mlhon

Figure 8. (upper) An example simulation iteration for spread beginning aroundJive yearsfrom present (Se: Santa Catarina, RS: Rio Grande do Sul. PR: Paraná). and (lower) thefrequency distribution of net present values (NPV) of commercial losses over 15 years ai 10% discount rate (adaptedfrom Mumford (2005)).

net present value (over 15 years) for losses bers of remaining host trees (less than 5%) and costs of up to USD 113 million. and SIT in areas with over 5% of remaining The pathways for remvasion from host trees. It was estimated that the cost of Argentina have been eliminated to the degree eradication, assuming spread into orchard practical through border quarantine and pack- areas did not occur for 3-7 years, would range ing house inspections for Argentine apple from USD 0.286 million to USD 0.644 mil- exports. Intensive monitoring has shown no lion, with a mean of USD 0.452 million spread to commercial orchards in 15 years of (Mumford 2005). If SIT were used for the infestation in four urban areas of Brazil. control of codling moth in the four infested Substantial progress has been made in two of areas of Brazil, it is estimated that the num- the urban areas to remove host trees. bers of sterile moths required would range Eradication appears to be technically feasible, from 1-1.5 million per week considering that with further host tree removal and replace- releases would be directed only against relic ment, lure-and-kill in areas with small num- moths. This assumes two years of further host CODLlNG MOTH ERADICATIO PROGRAMME IN BRAZIL 589 tree removal and concentration of the infesta- mass-rearing facility in Osoyoos, Canada will tions within the smallest areas of highest host be undertaken. Costs and benefits associated density. Under these scenarios, no infestations with the importation of sterile insects will be or costs occur in commercial orchards. compared with those associated with estab- However, without further host tree remova I lishing a mass-rearing facility in Juazeiro, the likelihood of spread into commercial Brazil (Malavasi et aI., this volume). orchards is significant. nder this scenario, costs range from a minimum over USO 0.8 10. Acknowledgements million (in simulations with no spread to com- mercial orchards), to a mean of around USO Thanks are due to lhe Intemational Atomic 1.5 million (with some impact on commercial Energy Agency and the Food and Agriculrurc orchards), and a maximum cost of over USO Organization of the United ations for sup- 100 million in simulations with exrensive porting research and participation in the infestations occurring in commercial orchards Coordinated Research Project on the codling (Mumford 2005). moth. Thanks are also due to the Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento, 9. Conclusions Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Associação Brasileira de Produtores de Maçã The codling moth is both an interesting issue (ABPM), Associação Gaúcha de Produtores for scienti fie investigation in the field of inva- de Maçã (Agapomi), Secretaria de Agricultura sion biology and a unique opportunity for do Rio Grande do Sul, Companhia Integrada plant protection agencies to take action to pre- de Desenvolvimento Agrícola de Santa vent establishment of a significant new pest. Catarina. Results obtained thus far are promising and apple growers have agreed to continue invest- 11. References ing in codling moth eradication, so as to declare Brazil a codling moth-free country Kovaleski, A., J. F. S. Protas, and R. L. like Japan. Much practical work was neces- Sugayama. 2001. Traça-da-maçã, Cydia sary, with many setbacks, to secure the credi- pomone/la (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), pp. 31- bility of an eradication programme in the eyes 38. In Histórico e impacto das pragas intro- of growers and technicians. This is particular- duzidas no Brasil. Editora Holos, Ribeirão Iy difticult in a country like Brazil with a lim- Preto, Brazil. ited tradition in plant protection. Fortunately, Kovaleski, A., H. Thistlewood, and J. F. S. growers are organized in associations and are Protas. 2005. Bionomics and population aware of the direct and indirect costs that the dynamics of the codling moth in urban arcas establishment of a new pest would cause as a background for suppression actions them. Currently, the codling moth eradication employing behavioural and genetic control programme is a major concem for growers. It methods in Brazil An historical approach of has been demonstrated that eradication is the codling moth issue in Brazil and evalua- technically feasible and cost-effective. The tion of costs and benefits associated to its increase in the trapping effort in urban areas eradication, pp. 31-35. ln Proceedings: aims to define hot spots clearly and rapidly. Improvement of Codling Moth SIT to The next step will be the application of the Facilitate Expansion of Field Application. SIT, mainly in Caxias do Sul, an industrial Third Research Coordinarion Meering, Joint municipality where the eradication pro- FAOflAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques gramme has been facing difficulties. An in Food and Agriculture, 16-20 September analysis of the technical and economic feasi- 2005, Mendoza, Argentina. JAEA-314-D4- bility of importing sterile males from lhe RC876, IAEA, Vienna, Austria. Okanagan-Kootenay Sterile Insect Release Mumford, J. D. 2005. Economic analysis of 590 A. KOVALESKI AND J. MUMFORD

the role of the sterile insect technique for pomonella) in Brazil. Report to the management of codling moth (Cydia FAOIIAEA. IAEA, Vienna, Austria.