Codling Moth: Control in Home Plantings Fact Sheet No
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Codling Moth: Control in Home Plantings Fact Sheet No. 5.613 Insect Series|Trees & Shrubs by W. Cranshaw and R. Hammon* Codling moth is the most important Although the caterpillars tunnel through Quick Facts insect pest of apple and pears in North the flesh, most feeding is concentrated on America. Damage is done by the larvae, the developing seeds of the core (Figure 4). • The caterpillar of the codling which are cream-colored caterpillars that When full-grown they again tunnel out of moth is the common 'worm' in tunnel fruit and produce ‘wormy’ apples the fruit, creating larger wounds. Brown a wormy apple or pear. (Figure 1). Control of this insect can be excrement is piled around the entry point difficult due largely to the feeding habits and where they exit the fruit. • Most injury is usually of the insect, but several measures may be produced by the second used in home orchards to effectively manage generation, which begins in codling moth. Life History and Habits early summer. Codling moth spends winter as a full- • Non-chemical controls that grown caterpillar within a silken cocoon, Description of the Insect pupating in late winter or early spring can reduce fruit damage The adult codling moth is a small (Figure 5). Adult codling moths first emerge include fruit thinning, prompt moth, approximately 1/2 inch in length in spring, typically within days of apple removal of infested fruit, (Figure 2). The general coloration is grayish bloom. Earlier emergence may occur if the bagging of fruit and the use of in appearance with narrow alternating bands insects spent wintering next to a building or certain traps. of white. The tips of the wings are coppery. other warm area. Peak emergence can occur • Insecticides are useful when Adult codling moths are rarely seen since within a week of the first moth emergence, they are most active during nighttime hours. but the last moth of the first generation applied to coincide with The larvae, which are usually found in the may not emerge for six or seven weeks. periods when eggs are being fruit, are creamy white to slightly pink. The Mating occurs within a few days of adult laid and before the newly head and thoracic shield are brown or black. emergence followed by egg laying. Egg laying hatched caterpillars borer into The body will turn from creamy white to a increases as night time temperatures increase fruit. slight pink color. above 62°F. • Pheromone traps can be Eggs are deposited singly on apples and leaves. Each egg is about the size of a pin useful in timing sprays. Codling Moth Injuries head and is translucent, gradually darkening Codling moth larvae can enter fruit at any as the egg nears hatching (Figure 6). Eggs point on the surface of apples but often attack hatch in six to 14 days, depending on at areas that provide some cover such as the temperature. Within 24 hours of hatching the stem end, calyx end, or where two fruit touch larvae burrow into the fruit. The first instar (Figure 3). Larval entry into pears, which larvae have a pink body with a black head are harder-skinned, is primarily at the calyx and are approximately 1/10 inch in length. end and attacks of pear occur later in the The number of eggs laid per female ranges growing season. Rarely, codling moth larvae from 30 to 70. have been found in cherries, peaches and The larval entry point is called a large-fruited crab apples. Although control of ‘sting’. The sting is characterized by a light codling moth in these crops is not necessary, red circular pattern around the point of infestations in crab apples can be significant larval entry. A small amount of brownish sources of codling moth that may later excrement (frass) may be present at the entry migrate to nearby apple and pear trees. point. ©Colorado State University The larvae tunnel through the apple, Extension. 6/13. ultimately reaching the core where they feed www.ext.colostate.edu *W. Cranshaw, Colorado State University Extension on the developing seeds. As the caterpillars specialist and professor, bioagricultural sciences and grow, they molt repeatedly going through five pest management; R. Hammon, area Extension agent, Mesa County. 6/2013 Management of Codling Moth Successful management of codling moth is dependent upon many factors such as size and extent of the codling moth population, number, size and condition of trees, presence of natural enemies, available pesticides, and tree owner attitudes. There is no one-size-fits-all best management Figure 1. Tunneling of apple fruit caused by strategy for all homeowners wishing to larvae of the codling moth. manage codling moth. Figure 4. Late stage caterpillar of a codling Natural Controls moth feeding within an apple. There are great many natural controls of codling moth, including some parasitic wasps and a host of generalist predators of insects (e.g., assassin bugs, minute pirate bugs, green lacewing larvae) (Figure 7). On unsprayed trees, or on trees where the insecticides used are selective in their effects (e.g., codling moth granulosis virus) these natural enemies can provide an Figure 2. Adult codling moth. important supplemental control of codling moth—and other insects/mites that may affect the crop (e.g., pear psylla, mites). However, due to the serious nature of codling moth injury, where a single larva can destroy a fruit, the natural enemies present for codling moth often will not provide control that is fully acceptable. Figure 5. Pupa of a codling moth. Trichogramma wasps, minute parasitic wasps that develop in the eggs of various moths, are available from several suppliers of biological control organisms. Figure 3. Excrement of a codling moth Potentially they may help suppress caterpillar expelled from point of entry near codling moth populations if applied calyx end of an apple fruit. repeatedly to coincide with periods when codling moth eggs are present, although effectiveness in home orchard settings larval stages (instars) before they become has never been studied and should be full-grown. The body of the growing considered experimental. caterpillars turns from creamy white to a slight pink color and the head and thoracic Cultural Controls Figure 6. Eggs of the codling moth are laid on shield are brown or black. leaves or fruit. Photograph courtesy of Ken When full grown, larvae are 1/2 to Fruit Thinning and Removal. Gray Collection/Oregon State University. 3/4 inches long. They emerge from the Successful entry of codling moth larvae is fruit and seek a protected site where they favored at sites on the fruit where there is spin a cocoon. The cocoons are typically some protection. A common point of entry identified by checking for ‘stings’ and other found beneath bark and underneath debris is where two fruit are in contact (Figure 8). evidence of entry points. Infested fruit around the base of the tree. Larvae that are Thinning fruit to prevent this can result in should be removed from the site as larvae present in late spring and early summer reduced fruit attacks. Thinning of fruit also will continue to develop normally in fruit pupate within the cocoon and subsequently makes good spray coverage possible and that is merely dropped to the ground. produce a second generation; a third spray programs are much more successful Sanitation. Successful pupation of generation may also be produced in some on properly pruned trees with thinned codling moth is dependent, in part, on locations. Larvae that emerge from fruit in fruit crops. there being adequate sources of cover. mid-late summer do not pupate until the Fruit that is already infested and that Removing sheltering debris from the following spring, spending winter as a full- still contain larvae should be picked vicinity of the base of the tree can deny grown larva within the cocoon. and destroyed (Figure 9). These can be cover. Flaps of bark that may develop on may also be used as a band.) Place the cardboard bands around branches at points where there is a transition from smooth to rough bark (Figures 10a and 10b). Place the corrugated face of band around branch and staple. As the codling moth larvae leave apples, they will crawl down the branch and move into the corrugated openings as a site for pupation. If there is loose bark on the fruit trees that can provide alternate Figure 10a. Banding trunks of trees with places for pupation the bark flaps should cardboard or burlap bands can provide sites be removed. where codling moth will pupate. They can During the growing season bands then be collected and destroyed. Photograph Figure 7. The assassin bug Zelus luridus is one courtesy of Rick Zimmerman. of many insects that will feed on codling moth should be checked frequently (every week and other insects found in apple and pear or two), during periods that coincide with trees. the end of a generation, the time when the full-grown larvae are moving to pupation sites. The larvae can be killed by crushing or removing and replacing bands. Larvae that are overwintering within the band can be removed any time after apples have been removed from the tree and before the emergence of adults the following spring. Bagging. Individual fruit may be enclosed in a small paper bag to exclude codling moth. Most readily available are Figure 10b. Codling moth larvae preparing to No. 2 paper bags commonly used for pupate within a cardboard band placed on an lunches. A slit cut in the bottom can allow apple tree trunk. Figure 8. A common point where codling moth larvae will enter fruit is where two fruit are in the bag to be slipped over the fruit and contact.