The bio-ecology of northern populations of the plum moth Grapholitha funebrana Tr. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in the context of climate change in the Central Nechernozem zone of Russia

Climate change over the last decades and rising global temperatures, especially in the Northern latitudes, affect ecosystems, including agricultural sector. The crops naturally grown in southern and central Russia are now expanding to northern areas along with dangerous pests that are not characteristic of these areas. Plum moth Grapholitha funebrana Tr. causes over 80 % yield losses. At least 3-4 treatments are required during the growing season to ensure the profitability. Chemical and environmentally friendly methods (pheromone traps) are of practical use. Anyway, successful protection requires detailed biological and ecological characterization of the pest in a specific area. In the Central Non Chernozem Zone of Russia such studies have not yet been conducted. This paper is the first evidence of G. funebrana wide spread in the Central Non Chernozem Zone where the pest can produce two generations. The study was carried out in the fruit-bearing plum plantations (All-Russian Horticultural Institute for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery, Moscow Region, Leninskii district) in 2015-2017...