The present study was undertaken to ascertain the temperature development characteristics of Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) across its various developmental stages. To this end, the insect was subjected to six constant temperature conditions (13, 17, 25, 27, 32, 34±1°C), relative humidity (RH) levels of 65±5%, and photoperiods of 16 : 8 h light/dark. The developmental time of larvae was longest at 13°C, and as the temperature increased up to 35°C, the developmental time tended to become shorter. At the pupal stage, all individuals developing at 13°C perished and were excluded from the calculation of the development period for the development model. To ascertain the relationship between temperature and development, a regression model was employed for analysis. The lower threshold temperature of the total immature stage was determined to be 9.4°C, and the thermal constant was found to be 454.5DD. In the analysis of the temperature-development experiment, the Lactin 2 model exhibited an optimal fit (R 2=0.90-0.98) for the total immature stage of P. operculella.

The potato tuber moth (PTM) is an oligophagous pest on solanaceous crops. We tested adult olfactory behavior and larval development on 5 cultivated tomato varieties leaves including Moneymaker, Campari, Ailsa craig, LA3475 and E6203, and one wild species, S. pimpinellifolium. Bioassay on PTM larvae showed highest developmental performances in Ailsa craig, and lowest in LA3475. Tomato leaf hydro-distilled oils of Moneymaker, Campari, Ailsa craig, S. pimpinellifolium and E6203 showed strong attractiveness and LA3475 exhibited repulsiveness for mated adult PTM of both sexes in two-armed bioassay. The hydro-distilled oils of all tomato leaves contain the fatty acid n-hexadecanoic acid as a major compound. We conformed presence of n-hexandecanoic acid (palmitic acid) in the leaves by GC-MS. LA3475 consists of (1-hexyltetraecyl) cyclohexane (10.5%) as the second major compound which was absent in all other tomato varieties. A standard sample palmitic acid was tested against the pest at 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/ml did not show any significant olfactometer effect. On other hand, phytol showed a weak attractiveness (60.7-63.6%) and (57.6-60.5%) for male and female PTM, respectively at 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/ml. Additionally, SEM of these tomato varieties leaves showed they have trichomes with distinct shapes. We are working on HPLC, and GC-MS analysis of specific chemicals in trichomes of these tomato varieties leaves.

The potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) is an important pest for solanaceous crops mainly potatoes. There is an increasing concern on host expansion to tomato which is higher cash crop. We monitored PTM population dynamics in potato dominated area and tomato greenhouse area in Andon, South Korea for 2 years using delta sticky trap with sex pheromone lure. PTM population was higher in potato growing area and low in tomato area; 19.82 PTM/trap/week and 0.8 PTM/trap/week, respectively. Peak occurrence time was related to the crop phenologies; August in potato field and November in tomato field. Land scape analysis showed that there was significant positive correlation between habitat potato field itself and green house with the number of moth catch during the monitoring period.

The potato tuber moth (PTM) is an oligophagous insect pest on solanaceous crops. Potato tuber is regarded as the main host of PTM but it can also feed, develop and reproduce on other solanaceous crops such as tomato. We tested adult olfactory behavior and larval development on 5 cultivated tomato varieties namely Money maker, Campari, Ailsa craig, LA 3475 (M82) and E-6203, and one wild species, S. pimpinellifolium. Tomato leaf hydro-distilled oils of Money maker, Campari, Ailsa craig, S. pimpinellifolium and E-6203 leaves showed strong attractiveness for mated adult PTM of both sexes (> 70%) in two-armed bioassay. LA 3475 (M82) oil showed repulsive response (83.7% for males and 87.3% for females). GC-MS analysis of the hydro-distilled oils of all tomato leaves contain the fatty acid n-hexadecanoic acid (Palmitic acid) as a major compound with relative percentage as S. pimpinelifollium (32.1%) > E-6203 (26.5%) > money maker (26.1%) > LA-3475 (16.3%) > Campari (15.0%) > Ailsa craig (10.4%). LA 3475 consists of (1-hexyltetraecyl)cyclohexane (10.5%) as the second major compound which was absent in all other tomato varieties. In no choice test, PTM larvae showed highest developmental performances such as number of mines, headcapsule size, pupal weight and survival in Ailsa craig, and lowest in LA 3475. In choice test, similar results were observed. This study indicates the leaf volatile of n-hexadecanoic acid might be responsible for PTM attractiveness and (1-hexyltetraecyl)cyclohexane for repulsiveness. And varieties of tomato leaves could support suitable nutritional contents to PTM, posing pest potential in the future where higher exposure is expected.

The potato tuber moth (PTM) is a cosmopolitan insect pest and hosts various solanaceous crops including tomato. We tested olfactory behavior and larval development of PTM on different varieties of tomato fruit namely, Money maker, Campari, Ailsa craig, LA 3475 (M82) and E-6203, and one wild species, S. pimpinellifolium. We also analyzed essential oil of the tomato fruits through GC/MS. There were significance differences in immature developmental period and head capsule size among the tested varieties. PTM larvae showed highest survival on Ailsa craig (66.0±6.0) and E-6203 (64.0±4.0) and lowest on S. pimpinellifolium (14.0±6.0). The major compounds found in the tomato fruit’s essential oils include n-hexadecanoic acid (14.2%) and 2-octylcyclopropaneoctanal (8.7%) in Money makers; hexadecanoic acid, 2-hydroxy -1-(hydroxymethyl) ethyl ester (13.1%) in Campari; tert-hexadecanethiol (6.8%) and 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis (2-ethylhexyl) ester (6.2%) in Ailsa craig; (Z)-13-docosenamide (13.39) in S. pimpinellifolium; Eicosane (4.4%,), (Z)-9 -octadecenamide (4.2%), and n-hexadecanoic acid (4.1%) in E-6208. The larval development result on tomato fruit could support its suitable nutritional contents to PTM, posing pest potential in the future where higher exposure is expected.

Potato tuber moth (PTM) is damaging pest of solanaceous crop invasive to Korea. We showed earlier that it inflicteddamage to tomato. So in this study, we evaluated accessions of Solanum lycopersicum (Money maker, Campari, AilsaCraig, LA3475 and e6203) and a wild variety of S. pimpinellifolium for resistance variability. A day old larvae of PTMwere inoculated to leaves and fruits. The result showed high survivability on leaves of Ailsa Craig (95.6%±4.4 SE) andlow on fruits of S. pimpinellifolium (14.0%±6.0). Leaves of LA3475 and fruits of S. pimpinellifolium were less preferred.Volatile compounds could be the cause. Density of trichomes could also influence PTM activity on leaves. These resultsgive us information on resistance variability which could be utilized if there is a host shift due to climate change.

The potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), is a ubiquitous pest on potatoes, tobacco, tomato and othercrops. The small hive beetle (SHB), Aethina tumida Murray, is a pest of European honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) in severalcountries in the world. Propolis is a balm-like substance collected from plants by bees. Its chemical composition variesand depends mainly on the flora in the region in which it is collected as well as the bee species. Hitherto biologicalproperties and the chemical composition of the essential oil extracted from propolis of Korean origin are unknown. Inthis study, while searching for an environmentally friendly method to control these pests we evaluated the repellent effectsof essential oil of propolis collected from Bee Lab of Andong National University and found that it possess repellentactivity against both small hive beetle and potato tuber moth. Moreover, a total of 171 constituents of the oil were identifiedof which 6 were major compounds using GC/MS analysis. We also compared the chemical composition of this oil withthose from 2 Ethiopian regions.

Potato tuber moth (PTM), phthorimaea operculella, invaded into Korea in 1968 but recently expanding the distribution possibly due to climate change. Ten insecticides were evaluated against the neonates and eggs of PTM. Vial contact test for neonates and dipping for eggs were conducted. LT50 at recommended dose and LC50 at 24 h were determined. Shortest LT50 was observed for fenthion (0.37 h) whereas longest LT50 from spinetoram (13.56 h). LC50 at 24 h was lowest in Abamectin (0.0052 ppm) followed by Emamectin benzoate (0.0084 ppm). Cartap hydrochloride significantly inhibited hatchability of 1, 2, 3, 4 day-old eggs (95.7, 94.0, 94.2, 89.8 % respectivly). Our result indicated that cartap hydrochloride was effective against both neonate and eggs of PTM.

Potato tuber moth (PTM) is a primary pest of potato which had invaded into Korea in 1968 and its distribution was restricted in the southern part of the peninsula. Possibly due to the climate change, its distribution expanded toward the North including Gyounggi and Gangwon province. Since this pest also can inflict damage on other solanaceous crop like tobacco and tomato, we tested the possible host expansion and damage potential on the varieties of tomato. A day old larvae were inoculated to three commercial varieties of a tomatoes and a potato. The results showed that PTM could survive and reproduce on tomato leaves or fruits with differential performance on the varieties. Development time for a day old larvae took longest in leaves of 3 months old plant than of one months old plant of tomatoes. PTM showed lowest reproduction on the leaves of variety with significantly higher type-VI trichome density/mm2. When fed with fruits of tomatoes PTM performance was low in terms of biological parameters in small sized cherry tomatoes than big normal size tomatoes. Significantly high survival rate was observed in the large sized fruit of tomato verities than small sized. This led to further discuss the importance of fruit size and the glycoalkoloid which is present in high level in cherry type tomatoes. Further work on resistance with more tomato accessions are necessary to know wider resistance variability in Korea.

Potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), is a serious pest of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants in the fields from warm temperate to tropical climates, and tubers stored under ambient temperatures post-harvest. In recent years, concerns on PTM occurrence and damage to potato are increasing due to climate change resulted in global warming. To search potent natural enemies of PTM, we collected >150 PTM larvae from potato fields in Jeju-do in May, 2009 and then reared in the room until wasp adults emerging, which was identified by Lee J.W. as Diadegma fenestrale (tentative Korean name, 감자뿔나방맵시벌). This is the first report in Korea. When supplied 10% sugar solution on adults to rear, the longevity was 12.2±2.0 day, which was much longer than supplied with only water (5.0±1.4 day) or none (3.1±1.1 day). When the 2nd larvae of PTM, 10 days after hatch, dwelled in potato tubers were supplied to parasitoid adults for parasitization, the developmental periods from egg oviposition to adult emergence was 24.0±2.9 day, and the sex ratio of newly emerged adults was 0.27. The parasitization ratio indoor showed a kaleidoscopic characteristics, ranged from 30.0% to 71.4%. It represented that many factors might be related for the successful parasitization to PTM larvae.

Potato tuber moth (PTM) has been a destructive pest on potato in the fields and strores through tropical to subtropical area. According to global warming, PTM distribution limit in Korea is facing north gradually. Recently, potato fields damaged by PTM are reported intermittently in the midsection of a country and southward. To secure a sufficient number of insect with equal growth stage is a prerequisite for investigating bionomics and developing new agrochemicals to control pests. In 2009, we collected PTM larvae first from the potato fields in Miryang and Gimcheon, and then placed them into transparent hexagonal rearing cage (30×30×30cm) with providing potato tubers as a food till emergence. A transparent cylindrical rearing cage (Φ15×30cm) erected vertically before putting emerged adults, and covered upper opening with net (50 mesh). To get eggs, we placed a filter paper (Φ11cm, called ‘oviposition paper’) on the net and sprinkled sugar solution. The oviposition paper laid eggs was stored in 10℃ refrigerator and changed with new one every 1~2 day interval. The developmental period of eggs to hatch was 5.2±0.7 days at 23±2℃, L16/D8 condition. Although adults laid eggs continuously for two weeks, second to fifth days after emergence showed highest oviposition, which suggested the most efficient periods for collecting sufficient eggs. A hatchability of eggs laid within 10 days after emergence was over 90%.