Pest Control Library: Codling Moth

Articles→Pest Control Library

By National Gardening Association Editors

Codling moth is found everywhere apples are grown, and is one of the major pests of this crop. It attacks pears, apricots, and quinces as well.

Caterpillars bore small holes in the fruit, usually at or near the blossom end. Inside, the pinkish-white worms with brown heads feed on the flesh, leaving tunnels full of sawdustlike frass (droppings). Infested fruit often drops prematurely from trees.

Codling moth larvae overwinter in cocoons under loose bark on the trunk or under debris on the ground. In midspring they pupate, emerging in late spring as grayish-brown moths. The females lay eggs on leaves, twigs, and fruits. The larvae feed briefly on the leaves before tunneling into the fruits. After feeding for 3 to 5 weeks, they emerge and crawl down the trunk in search of a spot to pupate. There can be up to three generations per year.

Control

Spray with the bioinsecticide Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). You will need to apply Bt at least three times, and timing is critical. Make the first spray 15 days after petal fall begins, and subsequently at 5-day intervals. Note when petal fall begins and mark the spray days on a calendar. Orchardists use sticky traps baited with codling moth pheromone in order to time sprays exactly.

Parasitic wasps will attack the caterpillars as they hatch, and are commercially available if there's no natural population.

Rake leaves and dropped fruit through the growing season and in autumn after all leaves have fallen.

Photography by Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

Together with Victory Seed Company:
Victory Seed Company Logo Victory Seed Company has all the seeds you want for your best garden in 2024.

For 25 years, the family-owned Victory Seed Company has provided the highest quality vegetable, herb and flower seeds to families across the country. We are passionate about providing you the best seeds available that give excellent germination, robust plants, and the harvest you want. With a catalog of over a thousand varieties, we have everything, and our prices are the kinds that we'd want to pay. We have hundreds of yesterday's heirloom vegetables, as well as today's award winning hybrid selections. Get to know us by visiting our website and browsing through our online vegetable seed catalog.

This article is a part of our Pest Control Library.
This article is a part of our Pest Control Library.
Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by Zoia and is called "Volunteer"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.