02043naa a2200169 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001910000110006024501170007126000090018852015300019765300120172765300250173965300160176465300240178077300690180410869112012-09-17 2012 bl uuuu u00u1 u #d1 aEpagri aBurrknots as Food Source for Larval Development of Grapholita molesta (LepidopterabTortricidae) on Apple Trees. c2012 aGrapholita molesta (Busck) is one of the main pests of apple trees, and lives on their shoots and fruits. In southern Brazil, the insect is also found on old branches and structures similar to aerial roots, so-called burrknots. This study evaluated the development and population growth potential of G. molesta fed on burrknots, compared with apple fruit cultivar. Fuji and a corn-based arti??cial diet. The study was carried out in the laboratory under controlled temperature (25 #2; 1#3;C), relative humidity (70#2;10%), and photophase (16 h). The biological parameters of the immature and adult stages were determined, and a fertility life table was constructed. Insects fed on burrknots showed a longer duration and a lower survival for the egg-to-adult period (29.3 d and 22.5%) compared with those that fed on apples (25.1 d and 30.0%) and arti??cial diet (23.9 d and 54.8%). Insects reared on aerial roots had a lower pupal weight (10.0 mg) compared with those reared on either arti??cial diet (13.7 mg) or apple cultivar. Fuji (12.4 mg). The fecundity and longevity of males and females did not signi??cantly differ for the three foods. Based on the fertility life table, insects reared on burrknots had the lowest net reproductive rate (Ro), intrinsic rate of population growth (rm) and ??nite rate of increase (#2;), compared with insects reared on arti??cial diet and apple fruit. Burrknots support the development of the complete cycle of G. molesta, which allows populations of this pest to increase in orchards. aBiology aFertility life table aLepidoptera aOriental fruit moth tENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY, Lanhamgv. 41, n. 4, p. 849-854, 2012.