Bionomics of the Eye-Spotted Bud Moth, Spilonota ocellana, on Cherry in Wisconsin1

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Abstract
The bionomics of the eye-spotted bud moth, Spilonota ocellana (Denis & Schiffermüller), on sour cherry in Wisconsin from 1960 through 1961 showed that the eggs had hatched by the last week in August and larvae had left the leaves by October 4 to construct overwintering hibernacula, entering hibernation as third instar larvae and moulting once inside the hibernacula before spring. Seventy per cent of the larvae overwintered on fruiting spurs. Natural mortality of the overwintering larvae averaged 15% in 1960 and 17% in 1961. The larvae became active when the buds started swelling in late April, left their hibernacula approximately 1 week later when the terminal leaf buds showed ⅛ to ¼ inch green extended growth, and attacked the fruit buds primarily, eating into the base of the bud and feeding therein on the developing flower parts. The larvae gradually left the fruit buds to feed on the expanding leaves, and later constructed “leaf nests” in the fully developed terminals. Larval activity was correlated closely with temperature as shown by an increase in fruit bud injury from 4% to 53% and from 5% to 33% in the 7-day interval between green tip and popcorn stage of tree growth in 1960 and 1961, respectively. By the petal-fall stage 92% and 65% of the fruit buds were injured, 86% and 51% of the pistils destroyed and 100% and 85% of the leaf clusters infested by larvae in 1960 and 1961, respectively. An average of 4% of the cherries was injured between petal fall and harvest in 1961. Larvae started pupating by June 15 and pupation was nearly completed by July 20, primarily in “twig nests” on the wood. Adults were present from the first week in July until the last week in August, reaching their peak abundance the first week in August. Eggs were deposited primarily on the underside of the leaves.

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