APHIS Factsheet

Plant Protection and Quarantine May 2008

Questions and Answers: 

Light Brown Apple Moth

Q: What is the light brown apple moth?

A: The light brown apple moth (LBAM), Epiphyas 

postvittana (Tortricidae) is an insect that can severely 

damage plants, trees and agricultural crops. LBAM are 

native to Australia but are now found in New Zealand, 

Ireland, the United Kingdom, and in the United States. 

In the adult stage, the moth is tan-colored, with irregular darker markings on the wings. It is approximately 

1⁄4 inch long. 

Q: When was the light brown apple moth found in 

the United States?

A: In 2007, USDA confi rmed that LBAM had been 

found in Alameda County, California. Just two years 

earlier, a USDA pest survey found no LBAM in the 

state. No signs of LBAM have been found over the 

last ten years as a result of pest surveys conducted in 

21 other states.

Q: What areas of California are currently infested 

with LBAM?

A: LBAM now have infested California’s Bay Area and 

its central coast. California counties experiencing 

light brown apple moth infestations include: Alameda, 

Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, San Francisco, San 

Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and 

Solano. 

Q: Why is this moth so harmful?

A: The LBAM has the potential to be one of the most 

destructive pests the United States has experienced. 

If left to spread unchecked, the LBAM could adversely 

impact more than 2,000 plants including native tree 

species, horticultural crops and food crops. This 

moth’s potential for widespread destruction is 

staggering. 

Q: What damage does the light brown apple moth 

infl ict?

A: During the larval stage, LBAM attacks more than 

250 fruit and vegetable crops, as well as 2,000 species of plants and trees. Potentially impacted crops 

include— but are not limited to—grapes, citrus fruits, 

peaches, plums, cherries and apricots. Vulnerable 

trees include—but are not limited to—pine, cypress 

and oak. Almost every ornamental plant in the average garden or yard is in danger of being harmed by 

LBAM. 

Q: Why should we eliminate these pests?

A: If the LBAM is not completely eradicated while the 

moth population in the United States is relatively small, 

the long term impacts to the environment and agricultural production could be signifi cant. A 2007 economic 

assessment by USDA evaluated geographic areas 

where the moth could permanently establish itself 

and thrive based on moth behavior as researched in 

Australia. The analysis indicated that LBAM could 

become established throughout the majority of the 

United States. The west coast, southwestern, and 

southeastern States would be at the highest risk. 

Q: Just how prolifi c are LBAM?

A. A mature LBAM female can deposit 300-1,500 eggs 

before dying. Each LBAM generation lives approximately 6-7 weeks. So, the progeny of a single female 

can result in at least 20 million adults in one season. 

Furthermore, these moths are not native to the United 

States and have no known predators or parasites here 

to reduce populations naturally. 

Q: How will the LBAM impact farmers and local 

farm communities? 

A: Based on reports from New Zealand, a 5-20% crop 

yield loss due to LBAM is not uncommon. Using the 

New Zealand crop loss results of 5% to 20%, the State 

of California alone could experience $685 million to 

$2.7 billion in annual crop losses if LBAM were to 

thrive and fl ourish. 

Other countries want to keep the pests out. The 

current infestation has already caused Canada and 

Mexico to enact restrictions on crops and plants grown 

in the 11 California counties infested with LBAM. 

Economic impacts from LBAM will reverberate beyond 

the California agricultural community if the moth is not 

controlled.

Q: What is the best way to eliminate these invasive 

pests?

A: Extensive research and numerous environmental 

assessments have determined that the best way to 

eradicate the light brown apple moth is to reduce their 

ability to mate through use of a pheromone developed 

exclusively for them. This will reduce the population 

until they are eliminated.
Q: What are pheromones and how do they work?

A: Insect pheromones are chemical signals that some 

insects release to attract mating partners. When the 

synthetic pheromone is released as well, confused 

male moths cannot locate female partners. The moths 

simply live out their natural life cycles unable to mate. 

With breeding stopped, the moths will die off. 

Q: Why use a pheromone to eradicate the light 

brown apple moth?

A: The pheromone used to treat the light brown apple 

moth, a Straight Chain Lepidopteran Pheromone, is 

the safest and most environmentally friendly way to 

eliminate the pest. It is not a pesticide to kill moths. 

This particular treatment was proposed by an independent and international panel of scientists after extensive testing. It is an effective alternative to conventional pesticides, and since this pheromone is specifi c 

only to the light brown apple moth, it affects just this 

one species. Also, the pheromone is not toxic, so it 

does not harm butterfl ies, endangered insects or 

benefi cial insects such as bees and other pollinators. 

Q: Are these pheromones safe?

A: Comprehensive studies show that the pheromone 

used for the light brown apple moth does not pose any 

health risks to any creature. Humans, mammals and 

other organisms cannot detect the insect pheromones, 

even though the pheromones are actually present in 

our environment every day. 

Moth pheromones have been used for more than 10 

years in Australia and New Zealand with no adverse 

effects reported. The U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency indicates the pheromones are safe and pose 

no risk to humans or food. Further, all Straight Chain 

Lepidopteran Pheromones, the class that includes 

LBAM pheromone formulations, are approved for use 

on organic crops by USDA’s National Organic Program. While newer formulations still require approval 

for organic use, USDA anticipates that approval will be 

obtained soon once new LBAM pheromone 

formulations are selected.

Q: How are the pheromones applied?

A: Twist ties containing the pheromone can be applied 

by hand when there are only a few moths in isolated 

areas. Small airplanes can release the pheromone to 

treat the heaviest infestations over a large area. In the 

case of aerial treatments, they are performed at night 

to minimize inconvenience to the community and to 

take advantage of reduced air traffic. 

Q: Have the aerial treatments been approved by 

scientifi c experts?

A: Yes. In addition to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service, the following agencies and organizations consider this approach to be acceptable: U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; California Department of Public Health; 

California Department of Pesticide Regulation; California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment; California Department of Parks and Recreation; 

Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board; 

Monarch Watch; and the Monterey County (Calif.) 

Otter Project. 

Q: Is the aerial dispersal of pheromones 

supplemented with insecticides?

 A: No. The LBAM pheromone formulation used in 

California in 2007, as well as the formulations being 

considered for use in 2008, do not include a traditional 

chemical insecticide. 

Q: What if no aerial dispersal takes place?

A: If the LBAM infestation is not addressed with 

pheromone applications, farmers, along with suburban 

and urban gardeners and even nursery operations will 

most likely turn to chemical pesticides on a permanent 

basis. Additionally, California-grown products will be 

restricted from moving out of infested counties and the 

state. The moths could also spread out of California 

into other states and across the country.

Q: Why aren’t European Countries working to 

control and eradicate LBAM by labeling it an 

“actionable pest” and instituting quarantines to 

control the movement of plants and plant products 

that could host the insect?

A: While LBAM is known to be present in parts of 

England and Ireland, it is not found in continental 

Europe. However, LBAM is considered established 

in the European Union (EU) due to the presence of 

LBAM in parts of England and Ireland. Therefore, 

LBAM is not regulated as a quarantine pest, and does 

not have any phytosanitary requirements to prevent 

the introduction or movement of LBAM-host plants or 

plant products into or within member States. LBAM is 

just one of many examples of pests that are considered actionable—or, quarantine signifi cant—in North 

America but not in Europe. 

Q: Is the United States the fi rst country to regulate 

LBAM?

A: No, the United States was not the fi rst country to 

establish import restrictions for LBAM to prevent the 

pest’s introduction through international trade. Each of 

the following countries considered LBAM an actionable 

pest of quarantine signifi cance long before the pest’s 

detection in California: Canada, Chile, Mexico, Peru, 

South Africa, South Korea, and Thailand.
Q: What are the LBAM regulatory requirements for 

Canada and Mexico? 

A: Canada currently requires all commodities imported 

from countries where LBAM is prevalent, such as Australia and New Zealand, to be fumigated with methyl 

bromide. When LBAM was fi rst detected in California, Canada quarantined the entire state and Mexico 

refused shipments of all host crops from California.

However, the plans to eradication LBAM and progress made towards that goal has convinced Canada 

and Mexico to relax their trade restrictions and accept 

LBAM-host crops from non-infested California counties, 

without any restrictions. The strategy now is to reduce 

the impact of both countries’ phytosanitary restrictions 

on LBAM-host articles from California by continuing to 

pursue eradication. If The USDA suspends eradication 

efforts, Canada and Mexico are very likely to impose 

more stringent phytosanitary requirements.

Q: Would USDA take over the LBAM program if 

the California Department of Food and Agriculture 

(CDFA) is unable to continue?

A: CDFA and USDA are jointly committed to pursuing LBAM eradication in California given the negative 

impacts associated with this invasive alien species to 

agriculture, the natural environment and horticulture.

Q: What can I do to help?

A: Invasive species, such as LBAM, can arrive in the 

United States in any number of ways, but the most 

common method is for international travelers to bring 

in fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil or other such 

items from foreign countries. Please leave these items 

in their native lands. If you suspect the presence of 

LBAM, please notify your state department of agriculture or the State Plant Health Director’s Office of 

USDA, APHIS, PPQ.

Visit http://www.aphis.usda.gov for more information 

about invasive species and how to report an agricultural pest. Click on Light Brown Apple Moth under “Hot 

Issues” on the home page for more information about 

this particular species and to report infestations. 

United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture

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