IMPACT OF DAMAGE BY THE DRIEDFRUIT MOTH, VITULA EDMANDSAE SERRATILINEELLA (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE), A PEST OF THE ALFALFA LEAFCUTTER BEE, MEGACHILE ROTUNDATA (HYMENOPTERA: MEGACHILIDAE)

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Abstract
Larvae of the driedfruit moth, Vitula edmandsae serratilineella Ragonot, enter uncapped tunnels in hives of the alfalfa leafcutter bee, Megachile rotundata F., and eat the pollen and nectar provisions of incomplete cells. Significantly more cocoons are destroyed in hives made of pine nesting material than in those made of polystyrene nesting material. However, significantly more tunnel walls are chewed into and through in the polystyrene than in the wood material. A significant positive relationship exists between the number of moth larvae per hive and the number of bee cells produced in that hive. After hives are removed from the field and placed in storage for the winter, most mature larvae leave the tunnels upon completion of feeding and aggregate in spaces between hives.

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