Behavioral differences between hawthorn-origin and apple-originRhagoletis pomonella flies in patches of host trees

We compared patterns of patch residence and oviposition ofRhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) females that originated as larvae from hawthorn or apple trees and were released into patches of host trees containing hawthorn or apple fruit in an open field. There were no detectable differences between hawthorn-origin females in patches of hawthorns and apple-origin females in patches of apples in numbers of females observed on food, fruit or foliage or in numbers of eggs laid in fruit during the course of the 7-h experimental period. Apple-origin females in patches of hawthorns behaved similarly to hawthorn-origin females in patches of hawthorns. In contrast, hawthorn-origin females in patches of apples differed significantly from apple-origin females in patches of apples. The former were observed on fruit only 40% as often and laid only 20% as many eggs before departing a patch. Our findings support the hypothesis of G. L. Bush thatR. pomonella flies of hawthorn and apple origin represent distinct host races.     

Pheromone-trap catch in relation to the phenology of codling moth (Cydia pomonella)

Relationships between a pheromone-trap catch, adult emergence and penetration of fruit by first-instar larvae of Cydia pomonella were investigated from 1975 to 1977 in an orchard in South West England. For the first generation the times of moth emergence and catch in the pheromone trap were not significantly different; nor were male and female emergence times. The catch of moths of the first generation in the pheromone trap anticipated the appearance of their larvae in the fruit by 140–169 day-degrees > 10 °C. Eggs hatched after 94 day-degrees in the laboratory but in the orchard, wind and sunshine modified the microclimate so that the number of day-degrees required for egg development, as measured by standard meteorological instruments, was affected by wind and sunshine but development lasted on average about 90 day-degrees. This indicated a lag of 50–80 day-degrees between the curves for trap catch and oviposition: the pre-oviposition period in the orchard was shorter than expected from laboratory studies. In 1975 and 1976, some larvae developed to produce a second generation of moths which gave rise to a second generation of eggs and larvae, after an interval of 161 day-degrees in 1975, but only 41 day-degrees in 1976, indicating that in 1976 some eggs were laid before moths of the second generation were trapped. These results indicate that the first insecticidal spray against first-generation larvae should be applied about 140 day-degrees after the start of the reference week in which five moths of the spring brood are caught per trap. A second spray, if required to maintain insecticidal cover, should be applied about 100 day-degrees later. A spray should be applied against second-generation larvae immediately after the reference week for second-generation moths.     

Tebufenozide targeted against codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) adults, eggs, and larvae

The effectiveness of tebufenozide applied against the adult, egg, and larvae of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), was evaluated. Significant reductions in fecundity and egg hatch occurred after 1-h and 24-h exposures of females and 24-h exposures of males-only to residues in plastic plates. A significant reduction in egg hatch was also found after a 1-h exposure of males. The ovicidal effects of tebufenozide in field trials did not significantly differ for eggs laid on residues or treated topically. Corrected egg mortality exceeded 95% for cohorts laid <130 degree-days after sprays were applied. Fecundity and egg hatch were measured after either a 24-h exposure of moths or a 10-d exposure of moths and eggs on apple trees. Significant reductions in both fecundity and fertility occurred compared with an untreated control up to 7 d in the 24-h assays and accounted for 60-70% fewer larvae produced per mated female. The mean numbers of larvae produced per mated female after the 10-d exposure were reduced 100-75% in assays started on day 0-21 after the spray application compared with the untreated control. Fecundity was significantly reduced for 7 d and egg hatch was reduced for the entire 21-d test period in these trials. Residues had a 14-d half-life on apple foliage. Residues applied to foliage or to foliage and fruit did not significantly increase the proportion of uninjured fruit compared with the untreated control in bioassays where neonates were placed on foliage 10 cm from fruit. However, the proportion of injured fruits with shallow stings versus deep entries was higher on the treated versus the untreated plants. Field applications of tebufenozide reduced fruit injury >90% when applied early during emergence. Plots treated after the beginning of egg hatch had a larger proportion of injured fruits with shallow larval feeding.     

Life stage toxicity and residual activity of insecticides to codling moth and oriental fruit moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

The codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), and oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck), are two key pests of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) in North Carolina. Growers extensively relied on organophosphate insecticides, primarily azinphosmethyl, for > 40 yr to manage these pests. Because of organophosphate resistance development and regulatory actions, growers are transitioning to management programs that use new, reduced-risk, and OP-replacement insecticides. This study evaluated the toxicity of a diversity of replacement insecticides to eggs, larvae, and adults, as well as an assessment of their residual activity, to codling moth and oriental fruit moth. Laboratory-susceptible strains of both species were used for all bioassays. Fresh field-harvested apples were used as a media for assessing the ovicidal activity of insecticides. For larval studies, insecticides were topically applied to the surface of lima bean-based diet, onto which neonates were placed. Toxicity was based on two measures of mortality; 5-d mortality and development to adult stage. Ovicidal bioassays showed that oriental fruit moth eggs were generally more tolerant than codling moth eggs to insecticides, with novaluron, acetamiprid, and azinphoshmethyl having the highest levels of toxicity to eggs of both species. In contrast, codling moth larvae generally were more tolerant than oriental fruit moth to most insecticides. Methoxyfenozide and pyriproxyfen were the only insecticides with lower LC50 values against codling moth than oriental fruit moth neonates. Moreover, a number of insecticides, particularly the IGRs methoxyfenozide and novaluron, the anthranilic diamide chlorantriliprole, and the spinosyn spinetoram, provided equal or longer residual activity against codling moth compared with azinphosmethyl in field studies. Results are discussed in relation to their use in devising field use patterns of insecticides and for insecticide resistance monitoring programs.     

Effects of low temperature on egg and larval stages of the lesser appleworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Lesser appleworm, Grapholita prunivora (Walsh), eggs were subjected to cold storage conditions at 2.0 degrees C +/- 0.2 degrees C for 0-90 d. The most tolerant embryonic stage was the blackhead stage (96-120-h-old eggs) with an LT90 of 25 d. The four instars of lesser appleworm were subjected to cold storage conditions at 2.0 degrees C +/- 0.2 degrees C for 0-280 d. The fourth instar was the most tolerant to cold storage, with an LT90 of 71.5 d. Exposure to low temperatures such as those commonly used for fruit storage shows promise as an alternative to fumigation for lesser appleworm eggs and larvae on apples and pears after harvest.     

Behavioral evidence for host races in Rhagoletis pomonella flies

Summary One of the most controversial putative cases of host race formation in insects is that of the apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae). A principal cause of the controversy is lack of relevant data. In laboratory and field enclosure experiments, we compared the host acceptance behavior of sympatric populations of flies originating from naturally infested hawthorn (the native host) and apple (an introduced host) in Amherst, Massachusetts or East Lansing, Michigan. In general, hawthorn fruit were accepted for ovipositional attempts nearly equally by apple and hawthorn origin females, whereas apples were accepted much more often by apple than hawthorn origin females. Similarly, males of apple and hawthorn origin exhibited about equal duration of residence on hawthorn fruits as sites at which to acquire potential mates, while males of apple origin tended to reside substantially longer than males of hawthorn origin on apples. Irrespective of fly origin, both sexes always responded more positively to hawthorn fruit than to apples. Because all flies assayed were naive (ruling out effects of prior host experience of adults) and because tests revealed no influence of pre-imaginal fruit exposure on pattern of host fruit acceptance by females, the combined evidence suggests the phenotypic differences we observed in host response pattern between hawthorn and apple origin flies may have an underlying genetic basis. Further tests showed that while larval progeny of flies of each origin survived better in naturally growing hawthorn fruit than in naturally growing apples, there was no differential effect of fly origin on larval survival ability in either host. We discuss our findings in relation to restriction in gene flow between sympatric populations of R. pomonella and in relation to current models of host shifts in insects.     

A test of fruit varieties on entry rate and development by neonate larvae of the codling moth,Cydia pomonella

The rate of entry by neonate larvae of the frugivorous codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), into fruit material was investigated. We used no‐choice bioassays in climate‐controlled rooms to assay larval entry across four host plant species (apple, pear, quince, walnut) and three varieties within a single fruit species (apple). Larvae successfully entering apples were reared to adulthood, and we collected tissue samples from apples which were successfully colonized in order to determine sucrose concentrations. This information was used to evaluate differences in adult moth size, development time, and pulp sucrose concentration due to apple variety. Four important findings emerged: (1) neonate larvae had the highest frequency of entry (86% of larvae) into apple fruits, compared with pear (78%), quince (56%), and walnut (32%); (2) the frequency of larval entry into immature apples differed across apple varieties, and larval entry rate was highest in variety Golden Delicious (72%), compared with Granny Smith (46%) and Red Delicious (64%); (3) on average, adult moths were larger and development times were shorter on the variety with the highest entry frequency (Golden Delicious); and (4) apple pulp sucrose concentrations were higher for Golden Delicious (17.5 μg mg^?1) than for either Granny Smith (15.9 μg mg^?1) or Red Delicious (15.1 μg mg^?1) varieties, which correlates positively with entry and development data. We conclude that host fruit species and varietals within a species affect the entry rate of neonate codling moth larvae in no‐choice assays. We hypothesize that larval development is influenced by mean sucrose concentrations or other phytochemical differences associated with host fruit varieties.     

甘肃酒泉苹果蠹蛾的发生规律

苹果蠹蛾Cydia pomonella(L.)是我国重要的果树害虫和检疫对象。本文通过田间调查和性诱芯诱捕器诱捕的方法,研究了2008年苹果蠹蛾在甘肃酒泉的年发生规律和空间分布特性。结果表明,苹果蠹蛾在我国甘肃酒泉1年发生2代;越冬代和第1代成虫发生高峰期分别为5月上旬至中旬和7月上旬至中旬,成虫在树冠的中层、向阳的方向(东部和南部)、果实和叶背面产卵较多;幼虫发生的两次高峰分别发生在6月17日和7月26日,刚孵化幼虫很快蛀果隐蔽为害,给防治带来很大困难;幼虫化蛹前,主要从树的上部向下爬行,并常以老熟幼虫潜入树干或分枝的树皮下结茧化蛹或越冬,次年4月中下旬开始羽化。     

苹果蠹蛾成虫产卵特性

苹果蠹蛾Cydia pomonella(L.)是全球温带地区果园主要害虫之一,是中国的重要检疫性有害生物,对我国苹果、梨等水果的安全生产造成极大危害及威胁。为详细了解苹果蠹蛾的产卵特性,从而为进行有效的监测与防控提供基础信息,作者于2006年在甘肃省山丹县梨果园中对树冠不同高度与朝向的蛀果率进行了调查,并于2010在内蒙古阿拉善左旗对梨树果枝上不同部位的产卵量进行了详细调查。主要研究结果如下:1)树冠2.5m以上的蛀果率显著高于2.5m以下的蛀果率,树冠东面的蛀果率最高,南面的蛀果率最低;2)在整个果园中,靠近北侧的果树上果实受害程度要高于南侧果树上的果实受害程度,整个果园中蛀果率由北向南逐渐降低;3)叶片上的卵数最多,占总卵数的73.1%,果实上的卵数次之,占总卵数的14.6%,枝条上的卵数最少,占总卵数的12.2%;4)在产卵的叶片上,卵主要产在叶背面,叶片背面卵量是叶正面的6.65倍。鉴于以上研究结果,在开展化学防治或颗粒体病毒防治时,应注意充分喷施果树上层树冠,且在对果实进行处理的同时,叶片和枝条也需要充分喷药。     

Potential for controlling codling moth Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Argentina using the sterile insect technique and egg parasitoids

Codling moth is the main pest affecting apples and pears worldwide. Most pest control strategies used against this insect have relied on the use of broad‐spectrum insecticides which have led to non‐desirable effects like pesticide resistance, residues in the environment, human health concerns and the reduction of access to international markets. Therefore, alternative pest control strategies that would result in sustainable fruit production systems while taking care of the environment are strongly promoted. The use of the sterile insect technique has proven to be a valuable pest control tactic within area‐wide integrated pest management strategies, and its synergistic effect for Lepidoptera pests when combined with other biological control tactics such as parasitoids has been documented. The purposes of this research were to evaluate the response of an Argentinean codling moth strain to a sub‐sterilizing radiation dose of 100 Gy and to assess the acceptability and suitability of sterile codling moth eggs by the egg parasitoids, Trichogramma cacoeciae (Marchal) and Trichogramma nerudai (Pintureau and Gerding). Irradiated female moths survived better than irradiated male moths and non‐irradiated male and female moths. Also, the fecundity of irradiated female moths was reduced by more than 30% as compared to non‐irradiated ones whereas their fertility was close to zero. The F₁ generation was male biased with a lower fertility (inherited sterility) than the parental generation. Trichogramma cacoeciae and T. nerudai parasitized both fertile and sterile eggs. However, there was a significant reduction in acceptability for sterile eggs. Trichogramma nerudai parasitized more eggs than T. cacoeciae, but egg acceptability for this species was proportionally lower than for T. cacoeciae especially on eggs oviposited by irradiated females. Development to adult of both parasitoids species was not substantially affected by the origin of the eggs and the wasps had acceptable levels of adult emergence, survival and fecundity. These results provided useful information on the potential for controlling the codling moth using egg parasitoids and the sterile insect technique in Argentina.     

Effects of azinphos-methyl and pyrifenox on reproductive performance of Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) at recommended rates and lower concentrations

The effects of deposits of commercial formulations of azinphos-methyl, an organophosphorous insecticide and acaricide, and pyrifenox, a systemic fungicide, on artificial surfaces on the survival and reproductive performance of codling moth adults, Cydia pomonella L., were examined in the laboratory. In contrast to pyrifenox, which did not influence the codling moth significantly, azinphos-methyl affected the insect in a number of ways: (1) it exhibited a strong direct insecticidal activity on adults, eggs and larvae; (2) at low concentrations, it decreased copulation significantly, as reflected by a reduction in the number of spermatophores contained per female; and it inhibited oviposition strongly; (3) at low concentrations moths copulated more often initially and produced more eggs than the controls. However, if the moths were kept in contact with the azinphos-methyl residues, they and their progeny died the following day so that the total number of eggs laid was reduced. Possible implications of the stimulatory effects, as well as repellency, of combined use of azinphos-methyl in the phermone mating disruption technique are discussed.     

Exclusion netting may alter reproduction of the codling moth (Cydia pomonella) and prevent associated fruit damage to apple orchards

Insecticide‐based management programmes targeting codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae), in apple orchards in southern France have incurred increasing levels of fruit injury in recent years. An alternative programme incorporating the use of exclusion netting named Alt'carpo has been developed. This study aimed at studying its efficiency and gaining more insight into its mode of action. This was achieved through laboratory and field behavioural tests and observations in a network of commercial orchards in southern France. The moths were able to lay eggs through the nets and escape from net cages in the laboratory. Male moths released in the netted rows were poorly recaptured using sexual pheromone trapping, whereas over 20% of the released males were recaptured in unprotected rows. The netting reduced fruit injury by up to 91% compared to the unprotected rows in the experimental orchard. The efficacy of this netting was even higher in commercial orchards in which fruit injury did not exceed 0.1% without any application of specific insecticide. These results lead us to assume that netting alters the reproduction of the pest, mainly by preventing it from flying over the canopy to find mates.     

Ovipositional enhancement through socially facilitated behavior in Rhagoletis pomonella flies

Apple maggot females, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh), were maintained (with males) singly or in groups of 5 in laboratory cages without fruit from eclosion until 15 days of age (when males were removed). When hawthorn, apple or artificial fruit were introduced on Day 16, females caged in groups laid significantly more eggs per female, irrespective of fruit type, than females caged singly. A follow-up laboratory experiment revealed that the oviposition-enhancing effect of grouping was due largely or exclusively to caging regime on day of access to fruit and not to prior caging regime. Subsequent laboratory-cage tests indicated that none of the following factors contributed significantly to the oviposition-enhancing effect of grouping under laboratory cage conditions: odor of fruit punctures, odor of eggs, odor of marking pheromone, or presence of other females on fruit, all as potential stimuli eliciting female attraction to fruit; or presence of fruit punctures, eggs, or marking pheromone, all as potential oviposition-enhancing stimuli following alighting on a fruit. The only contributing factor of significance uncovered here was the enhanced propensity of an arriving female to bore into a fruit shortly after encounter with an occupying female engaged in ovipositional behavior. We consider such enhancement as suggestive of socially facilitated egglaying behavior, which we discuss.     

Thermal response in adult codling moth

Abstract.  The thermoregulation behaviour of the adult codling moth, Cydia pomonella , is investigated in the laboratory using temperature gradient experiments. Unmated males and females are tested at dawn when moths typically move to resting sites. Mated females are tested during oviposition over a complete diurnal cycle. Temperature strongly affects microhabitat selection in adult moths. Unmated males and females prefer to rest at the low-temperature ends of temperature gradients between 15 and 32 °C. Relative humidity does not influence the thermal response in unmated females, whereas males show a less distinct temperature selection under high humidity. By contrast to unmated moths, ovipositing females prove to be highly thermophilous (i.e. they deposit the highest proportions of their eggs in the zones of highest temperatures of gradients between 15 and 36 °C). This striking discrepancy in thermal response of females between their premating and oviposition period is likely to reflect an adaptation to different selection pressures from the thermal environment. Unmated moths may benefit from low temperatures by a longer lifespan and crypsis within the tree canopy, whereas the choice of warmer oviposition sites by mated females will favour a faster development of eggs.     

Intra- and interspecific competition and host race formation in the apple maggot fly,Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Intra- and interspecific resource competition are potentially important factors affecting host plant use by phytophagous insects. In particular, escape from competitors could mediate a successful host shift by compensating for decreased feeding performance on a new plant. Here, we examine the question of host plant-dependent competition for apple (Malus pumila)- and hawthorn (Crataegus mollis)-infesting larvae of the apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) at a field site near Grant, Michigan, USA. Interspecific competition from tortricid (Cydia pomonella, Grapholita prunivora, and Grapholita packardi) and agonoxenid (subfamily Blastodacninae) caterpillars and a curculionid weevil (Conotrachelus crataegi) was much stronger for R. pomonella larvae infesting the ancestral host hawthorn than the derived host apple. Egg to pupal survivorship was estimated as 52.8% for fly larvae infesting hawthorn fruit without caterpillars and weevils compared to only 27.3% for larvae in harthorns with interspecific insects. Survivorship was essentially the same between fly larvae infesting apples in the presence (44.8%) or absence (42.6%) of interspecific insects. Intraspecific competition among maggots was also stronger in hawthorns than apples. The order or time that a larva exited a hawthorn fruit was a significant determinant of its pupal mass, with earlier emerging larvae being heavier than later emerging larvae. This was not the case for larvae in apples, as the order or time that a larva exited an apple fruit had relatively little influence on its pupal mass. Our findings suggest that decreased performance related to host plant chemistry/nutrition may restrict host range expansion and race formation in R. pomonella to those plants where biotic/ecological factors (i.e. escape from competitors and parasitoids) adequately balance the survivorship equation. This balance permits stable fly populations to persist on novel plants, setting the stage for the evolution of host specialization under certain mitigating conditions (e.g. when mating is host specific and host-associated fitness trade-offs exist).     

Relationship between reflectance spectra of host plant surfaces and visual detection of host fruit by Rhagoletis pomonella flies

ABSTRACT. Within host trees, male and female Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) flies locate visually individual fruit of apple and hawthorn, which are sites of mating and oviposition. By measuring the diffuse reflectance spectra of both fruit and foliage and by using artificially pigmented natural fruit and artificial fruit mimics, we show that fruit hue is not as important in R. pomonella fruit detection as is intensity contrast of dark fruit against a bright background of light transmitted through foliage or skylight. In discussing the fruit detection system of R. pomonella , we compare it to that of vertebrate fruit consumers and seed dispersers.     

Gamma irradiation as a quarantine treatment for apples infested by codling moth (Lep., Tortricidae)

Abstract: Effects of gamma radiation on the fifth instar codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), larvae were examined. Mature larvae were exposed to a series of gamma radiation doses ranging from 50 to 250 Gy and survival to pupae and adults was examined. The results showed that pupation and adult emergence decreased with increasing radiation dose. The results also showed that diapausing larvae were more sensitive to irradiation treatment than non-diapausing larvae, and females were more sensitive than males. A dose of 150 Gy reduced adult emergence to less than 2% in non-diapausing larvae, while a dose of 200 Gy completely prevented it. Furthermore, none of the emerging moths exposed to a dose of 150 Gy were females; at 100 Gy dose, the percentage of females was less than 14%. Irradiating larvae in apple fruit in a small-scale laboratory experiment produced similar results. Tests in which >100 000 larvae (in the fifth instar) were irradiated in an artificial rearing medium with a dose of 200 Gy resulted in no adult emergence. Similar results were also obtained when >32 000 larvae in the same stage were exposed in apple fruit to the same dose. The results indicate that the use of ionizing radiation as a quarantine treatment for codling moth infested fruits is feasible and requires a relatively low dose.     

Stimuli affecting selection of oviposition sites by female peach twig borer, Anarsia lineatella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

In laboratory and field experiments, stimuli were tested that might affect oviposition decisions by female peach twig borer moths, Anarsia lineatella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). When given a choice between immature green peach fruits, green mature peach fruits and soft-ripe peach fruits, the latter received the fewest eggs. Fuzzy halves of peach fruits received ten times more eggs then shaved hairless halves. Volatiles from both almond and peach shoots induced more oviposition by females than by control stimuli. Similarly, volatiles from immature green peach fruits, mature green or mature hard-ripe peach fruits induced more oviposition than their respective control stimuli. In a choice experiment, volatiles from immature peach fruit stimulated three times more oviposition than those from soft-ripe peach fruit. Discrimination against mature soft-ripe peach fruits as potential oviposition sites may lie in the phenology of A. lineatella and host peach fruits. Larval development to the pupal stage takes 15–27 days. Therefore, any eggs laid on a ripe fruit 14 days before it falls from the tree will not likely develop into adult insects because developing larvae will only reach third or fourth instar before the fruit is decomposed, and only first and second instar larvae can overwinter.     

Assessment of sublethal effects of methoxyfenozide on oriental fruit Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Sublethal effects of the insect growth regulator methoxyfenozide were examined in oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck), in laboratory and field studies. In laboratory studies, oriental fruit moth larvae reared on diet amended with 0.1 ppm methoxyfenozide developed at the same rate as larvae reared on untreated diet, and paired moths reared as larvae from the same treated or untreated diets exhibited similar fecundity and fertility. Population growth differences over multiple generations were used to examine sublethal effects of methoxyfenozide on population dynamics in the field. Multiple single-tree cages were placed over apple (Malus spp.) trees treated with two applications of methoxyfenozide (70 g [AI] /ha) and nontreated trees. Cages were infested at a single time point with virgin male and female oriental fruit moth adults, and population growth was evaluated by egg counts, shoot infestation, fruit damage, and larval counts over a 12-wk period. Significantly fewer eggs, larvae, and damaged fruit were found on methoxyfenozide-treated compared with nontreated trees in 2001. Observed population differences may have been a result of direct mortality to eggs and larvae of the first generation rather than sublethal effects. In 2002, no differences were observed between treatments, but a heavy rain event shortly after the early infestation impacted the experiment. A late moth release treatment was tested in 2002 to examine the effects of residual methoxyfenozide 55 d after initial application. Significantly fewer eggs were found in the methoxyfenozide treatment compared with the control, but no differences existed among treatments in shoot infestation, percentage of damaged fruit, or larval populations. It was concluded direct mortality of eggs and larvae exposed to methoxyfenozide rather than sublethal effects were most important in reduction of subsequent generations.     

Egg adhesion of the codling moth Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera,Tortricidae) to various substrates: II. Fruit surfaces of different apple cultivars

In the late growing season of apples, most eggs of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae), of the second and third generations are deposited directly on fruits. The apple fruit surface is densely covered by three-dimensional micro- and nanoprojections, the epicuticular wax crystals, emerging from an underlying wax film. These epicuticular waxes render the apple fruit surface hydrophobic, which could affect the attachment of insect legs and eggs to it. A better survival of the codling moth offspring is expected to be ensured by the selection of suitable oviposition sites by females, as well as by a proper adhesion of deposited eggs to these sites. In this study, we investigated egg adhesion of the codling moth to the fruit surface of different cultivars of the domestic apple, Malus domestica Borkh., by measuring the pull-off force required to detach eggs from fruits. Since surface characteristics may influence insect egg adhesion, the information about morphological and physicochemical properties of the fruit surface is crucial for understanding oviposition site selection by females. In the present study, surface morphology, wettability, and free surface energy of the apple cultivars ‘Boskoop’, ‘Elstar’, ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Jonica’, and ‘Topaz’ were analyzed. Eggs adhered tightly to the fruit surface of all apple cultivars tested: pull-off forces averaged 63.9 mN. These forces are four- to tenfold stronger than those previously measured on adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces of the identical apple cultivars. The mechanisms used by the moth to fix its eggs on the waxy surface of apple fruits, and the influence of fruit surface properties on egg glue adhesion are discussed. Furthermore, the results are debated in the context of the oviposition site selection by females, and its role in offspring survival of the second and third generations of the codling moth.