Occurrence Pattern of an Unidentified Moth Captured by Sex Pheromone Trap of the Oriental Fruit Moth, Grapholita molesta, and Its Discriminating Molecular Markers
An unidentified moth was captured in sex pheromone traps of the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta, especially at spring season in apple orchards and their vicinity. Though the captured males were similar in appearance to G. molesta males, they were easily distinguished by a marked difference in body size. Their occurrence pattern was also similar to that of overwintering G. molesta population from April to May, at which more males were captured in the pheromone traps installed in the vicinity of apple orchards than within apple orchards. After May, they were no longer captured in the pheromone traps. To investigate any larval damage due to this unidentified moth, molecular markers needed to be developed. Four PCR-RFLP markers originated from cytochrome b region of mitochondrial DNA could distinguish this unidentified moth from G. molesta.