- WP Steyn and T Grové
- ARC-Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Private Bag Xl 1208, Nelspruit 1200, South Africa
- 2005
The litchi moth, Cryptophlebia peltastica (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a pest of litchi, Litchi chinensis Sonnerat, in South Africa. The female lays her eggs on the skin of the fruit and newly hatched larvae eat through the skin and into the fruit flesh and seed. The aim of the present study was to rear high numbers of the litchi moth in captivity for future
research. Infested litchi fruit was collected at 3 different locations during the growing season. Final instar larvae found in the fruit were placed in plastic containers with sand for the larvae to pupate in. Pupae found were placed in boxes for adult moths to emerge. Adults that emerged were collected and placed in a cage at 3 different temperatures and 3
different humidities. Eggs laid were placed singly into honey flasks with a steam sterilized maize meal medium. Not one of these eggs hatched. From the results found, it seems that the optimum temperature for egg laying is 30°C and relative humidity of 80% – 100% with a complete night cycle. Further work starting with many more individuals is required to establish a laboratory population.