The Pawpaw Peduncle Borer, Talponia plummeriana Busck (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae): A Pest of Pawpaw Fruit

ABSTRACT The pawpaw peduncle borer, Talponia plummeriana Busck (Lepidoptera: Torticidae), is a pest of pawpaw flowers often boring into the peduncle and causing flower drop. Here we document the first occurrence of this insect infesting ripe pawpaw fruit. Infested fruit that had been collected at the Kentucky State University Research and Demonstration Farm in Franklin County, Kentucky were dissected and small tan colored larvae with brown head capsules were discovered in the fruit. Pawpaw peduncle borer adults were reared from fruit held at room temperature in the laboratory.