During the 2000/2001 season, the polyphagous leafroller Argyrotaenia sphaleropa (Meyrick) caused damage in commercial peach orchards, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Caterpillars scrape the fruit epidermis, mainly at the insertion of the stalk or in the junction of the leaves and fruits, depreciating them commercially. Despite conventional chemical treatments, losses were around 2%; however, many growers have mistaken the A. sphaleropa damage as caused by Grapholita molesta (Busck), and have used insecticides to control the last one.
Insecta; South American tortricid moth; integrated fruit production
