Morphology and Damage
The codling moths belong to the order Lepidoptera and they’re considered an invasive and one of the most disparaging garden moths in the UK. Besides doing considerable damage to the apple tree garden, the codling moths are equally destructive to pear and peaches across the world. Since the codling moth (Cydia pomonella) primarily feeds on fruit that leads to premature fruit drop and rotting allowing the mold and several fungal diseases on the fruit skin. Particularly, the apple moth is a boring pest that lays eggs on premature fruit, leaves, and newly emerged shoots of an apple fruit tree at night. After hatching, a larva bores into the developing fruits where it reaches into the center of the apple fruit leaving a brown frass trail on the point of entrance. Often, the Larva is brown-headed and the color varies from white to pink that could reach 2 cm. The presence of the frass trail on fruit skin is a clear indication that damage is already done and there is no way to recover that particular fruit. Under some circumstances, codling moth larva bore into the fruit skin leaving an ugly cavity at the point of an entrance that shows restrictive growth. In such cases, you could find a fully developed larva in the middle of the fruit. Sometimes, fruit flies always puncture fruit skin that allows the tiny larva to penetrate and gain its fuller side into the fruit within 4-5 five weeks depending on climatic conditions. After that, it emerges from the fruit and develops a thick silky cocoon around its body for pupation. It is often difficult to locate silky cocoons as they hide them in cervices under bark or other sheltered areas. Depending on the temperature and humidity conditions, the codling moths may have 3-4 generations in a growing season. The codling moth damage is often ruthless that could reach above 80 % if not noticed or if it goes out of control during 1st or 2nd instar. However, it is necessary to point out that pupation completes within the cocoon in spring and the larva’s come out in the mid to late spring to invade the next apple crop.
Codling Moth Management
Controlling codling moths using pesticide ingredients is posing the biggest threat to sustainable farming and the agriculture world is diverting towards the safer methods that leave no residues on fruits, vegetables, and leafy crops. The apple growers rely on several pest controlling techniques that define the degree of their success, among them biological, cultural, and organic pest control is primitive methods that don’t leave any harm in the form of residues on the crops and the growers’ health. Additionally, these are best practices that could save our natural reserves like water reservoirs and pollinators for the greater benefits of both humans and humanity. Sustainable apple farming relies on vigilance and pest scouting as a priority for managing garden fruit moths and other insect pests that are a hindrance to developing a quality product. Predominantly, the apple growers are vigilant about how an increase in temperature and humidity builds sudden pest pressure in an apple orchard. The pupation rate significantly increases when temperature and relative humidity crosses 29°C , respectively. So, the best time to act is before touching these higher limits.
A biological codling moth killer utilizes beneficial nematodes which are microscopic vampires that actively hunt codling moths during the early stages. Hunting activity often triggers at night when moths boring peaks during favorable conditions. Since the living conditions for both beneficial nematodes and codling moths are the same, it’s sometimes difficult to manage codling moths without installing a fruit moth trap before releasing beneficial nematodes in the garden. The Pheromone-based codling moth trap could potentially help controlling apple tree moths but it only attracts male moths. This reduces the egg-laying capability of female moths reducing the insect population to a greater extent. The codling moth trap apple tree comes in several variants and works equally well against all existing strains of insect pests that harm apple fruits, such as Pestmatic codling moth trap.
When you apply a codling moth pheromone trap in spring, you could keenly observe their flights that head towards the locations where you place traps. The traps with a sticky surface allow you to count the number of moths trapped at a particular site. It helps the apple growers to measure whether the pest infestation is within the economic threshold level or needs additional arrangement for managing their population below the level to reduce fruit damage. The sticky baits typically need replacement after 3-4 weeks depending on the moths’ population, dust particles, and plant debris that adhere to the surface of a trap. The majority of traps also need replacing once they receive a good rain shower. Two or more moths per trap mean that the first egg-laying cycle could start in a week or 10 days. The apple growers could initiate aerial insecticide spraying at this point using residue-free organic compounds that derive from plants and plant materials.
Ingredients extracted from the plant materials that apple growers often prefer for managing and killing codling moths include nicotinamide, azadirachtin, pyrethrum, and another compound Spinosad which derives from a naturally living soil bacterium could better do the rest of the moths controlling job when infestations exceed injury level. Additionally, anti-insect nets could serve as the safest tool against a variety of flying, chewing, and sucking pests that damage apple fruit during different stages of growth and development. Organic apple growers are always passionate about upcoming fruit crops and put all their efforts to remain sustainable in this practice. They could also choose organic insecticide from OMRI listing provided they feel that other sustainable solutions such as codling moth traps, anti-insect nets, and baits are insufficient to resolve pest management issues. However, the growers’ choice is always respected as they know better what sort of solution suits their growing environment. Whatever is the growers’ choice, we are here to help them with the best available product chemistry and codling moths’ traps throughout the apple growing environment in the UK.
