Codling moth (Cydia pomonella) is one of the major insect pests affecting the UK’s top fruit growers. Year after year, this lepidoptera pest causes significant damage, and its impact on profitable fruit production continues to grow.
Add to that the rising threat to traditional insecticides, with both pressure to reduce pesticide inputs and revocations of approvals, and fruit growers are in danger of facing a perfect storm.
That’s why it’s never been more important to look to alternative codling moth control solutions, and at UPL, we’ve got just the answer.
The challenging life cycles of the codling moth
The codling moth begins to impact top fruit production when the adult moth emerges in late May to breed and then lays eggs near developing fruit from June to mid-July.
The larvae emerge from these eggs and then burrow into fruit looking for the seed, causing dropped and graded out fruits.
Traditionally, fruit growers faced a single life cycle threat from codling moths. But a warmer climate has led to extended flight times and a second generation of pests emerging during the growing season.
Controlling codling moth therefore requires a more robust strategy, but that’s easier said than done.
The shift away from traditional insecticides
The recent regulatory landscape has seen previously key insecticides like methoxyfenozide withdrawn, and the future for others is far from certain.
Full control is harder to achieve, especially when growers face continuing pressure to reduce their use of pesticides, not just from regulators, but also from retailers and processors (and their customers) who are demanding more sustainably produced products.
Increasingly, growers are looking to rely on building and protecting natural populations of beneficial insects to protect fruit from damage, but these can be quickly overwhelmed. Using non-selective insecticides is also not compatible with this approach.
Fortunately, there are options for growers. Options like CARPOVIRUSINE.
Embracing alternative biosolutions
The changing environment - both in terms of a warmer climate and tighter regulations - means a change is needed in your approach to codling moth control.
A change that embraces alternative biological solutions like CARPOVIRUSINE.
CARPOVIRUSINE is a granulovirus insecticide containing UV buffers and is highly effective on codling larvae and selective for beneficial predators. It’s based on a viral pathogen of codling moth and, when ingested, kills off moths without any risk of residuals or any damage to other beneficial insects.
It’s highly effective too.
For two years, UPL has been running trials in collaboration with NIAB EMR. The results clearly show that using CARPOVIRUSINE gives improved control over the standard programmes that use indoxacarb and chlorantraniliprole.
This research shows that integrating biological control offers growers a great alternative to synthetic chemistry in effective codling moth control.
When combined with green shelters for beneficial insects, pheromone disruption technology and digital pest monitoring systems, there’s a clear, effective option for growers to use nature to work for farming, rather than fighting against it.
Start exploring CARPOVIRUSINE today
The season for codling moth is now truly underway. Last year saw an incredible pressure from the codling moth pest in some regions that started at the end of April and did not end until just before harvest. Now is the time to apply.
Get your plans in place today.
Start exploring biosolutions like CARPOVIRUSINE and you’ll set yourself up for effective codling moth control and a successful, profitable season.
