Status of Thaumetotibia (Cryptophlebia) leucotreta in Israel
In connection with the preparation of a CABI/EPPO map of this species, it was found that only one old published record existed. However, the status of Thaumetotibia (Cryptophlebia) leucotreta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Israel is now officially declared by the NPPO as ‘present, but of limited distribution, limited host range and subject to official control’. T. leucotreta is considered as a quarantine pest for Israel and appears on the official list appended to the Israeli Plant Import Regulations. According to Hamburger et al. (2000), only macadamia (Macadamia terniflora, no longer commercially grown), castorbean (Ricinus communis, wild) and cotton are known to host this pest in Israel. Citrus is not considered to be a host plant, as citrus fruit samples consistently show no infestation. Detection and monitoring programmes are ongoing. They include routine and directed inspections of fields and orchards, and regular checking of approximately 200 pheromone traps spread across the country, particularly in buffer zones around the delimited area of infestation. Control measures (use of natural enemies) are being applied.
Sources
NPPO of Israel, 2003-01.
Hamburger, M.; Zarabi, L.; Weiss, M.; Argaman, Q.; Kuslitzky, W.; Kein, Z. (2000) False coldling moth (Cryptophlebia leucotreta) in Israel.
Phytoparasitica, 29(1), p 84. [Also available on Internet: Abstracts of Presentations at the 18th Conference of the Entomological Society of Israel http://www.phytoparasitica.org/phyto/vol29.html