Effect of bisabolangelone on development of Cydia pomonella larvae and oviposition of the females

The effects of bisabolangelone on the development of codling moth larvae, Cydia pomonella L., and on ovipositional behaviour of the females were studied under laboratory conditions. Entry of the neonate larvae into apples and their development on a semi‐synthetic medium were completely inhibited when the larvae were exposed respectively to 10 μg a.i./cm 2 and 20 μg a.i./ml of this compound. While concentrations of 1.25 to 5.0 μg a.i./ml bisabolangelone in the medium did not significantly affect larval development, exposure of the larvae to a higher rate (10 μg a.i./ml) resulted in 80% mortality during the first week. Nevertheless, the larvae which survived the treatments underwent further development until emergence of the adults. No significant changes in duration of larval or pupal periods were recorded. Oviposition of the females in plastic beakers, whose inner surfaces were partially painted with two concentrations of bisabolangelone (1.25 to 5.0 μg a.i./cm 2 ), was significantly reduced and the eggs were mainly laid on the parts painted with the ethanol solvent alone. When the inner surface of the cups was completely treated (i.e. top, bottom, and side) with similar concentrations of bisabolangelone, a dramatic reduction in oviposition occurred and the eggs were mostly laid on the bottom of the beakers. While this compound did not significantly influence egg hatch, it inhibited the normal upward movement of the adults in the cups and migration of the newly hatched larvae through perforations of the lids.