One phrase any apple producer wants to avoid hearing? Codling moth. Codling moth larvae can wreak havoc in apple and pear orchards like no other pest, so it's important to thoroughly scout for them and take immediate action if they are found.
The grey-and-white-striped moths deposit eggs on the undersides of leaves, and newly emerged larvae immediately seek out the fruit. Though every part of the apple is susceptible to attack, the larvae tend to stick to areas that aren't easily spotted. They concentrate on the stem end or the calyx end, or they try to drill into an area where two apples touch. Once inside, they munch away at the interior flesh and seeds of the fruit before emerging 3 to 4 weeks later. This is where the most obvious damage occurs, as the exit wounds are often surrounded by piles of caterpillar waste.
After leaving the apple, the caterpillar finds a protected place to spin a cocoon: beneath loose bark or on the ground under light debris, for example. They overwinter before emerging as adult moths just about the time when trees are in full bloom. Then the cycle begins anew — and if left unchecked, you can see up to four generations in a single season. If conditions are right (warm with moderate humidity), up to 90 percent of the fruit can be infected by a single generation.
Are you a grower with concerns about codling moth? One of the standard insecticides used by apple and pear growers for control of codling moth is ASSAIL® insecticide. An application of ASSAIL controls codling moth with the added benefit of secondary pest control. Depending on where you grow apples in the United States, ASSAIL will also control aphids, Campylomma, apple maggot, plum curculio and other insects that plague apple crops.
To learn more about ASSAIL or other UPL solutions, contract your local retailer or sales representative.
