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Codling Moth - Cydia pomonella 
 Helen Atthowe - Missoula County Extension 
Clemson University, USDA Cooperative
Extension Slide Series, www.ipmimages.org
 HOSTS: Apples, pears, and (on RARE occasions)
plums. DESCRIPTION:
Adults
are 1/2 to 3/4 inch gray moths with a dark band. Larvae are
cream colored, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long caterpillars with dark heads. LIFE
CYCLE: Codling
moths over winter as larvae underneath apple tree bark or occasionally
in the soil at
the base of host trees. Adults emerge in the spring when temperatures
reach 50° F. Optimum temperature for codling moth development is
68-81° F. Cool temperatures (<55° F) and rainy weather limit
codling moth
flight and thus mating. High temperatures (>92° F) also limit
codling moth flight.After mating, codling moth adults lay eggs singly on or near the fruit. Each moth lays between 30-130 eggs. Eggs hatch and tiny white (1/8” long) codling moth larva feed on apple fruit surface producing shallow, brown, sawdusty spots. Within 4 to 48 hours larva begin to tunnel into the fruit within days. Larva develop inside fruit, then leave the fruit and crawl down the tree trunk to pupate on tree bark or in the soil. There are 2-3 generations of codling moths in Missoula per year. CONTROLS: Cultural: Remove and use or destroy apples that drop to the ground or are left on the tree. Adult moth mating is disrupted by, and larval mortality is increased by, rainfall especially in the evening (when moths mate). In one experiment, four hours of overhead irrigation daily in the evening during moth flight and larval hatch decreased fruit injury by 90%. Use pheremone traps to measure peak moth flight. Tree bands placed around the base of apple trees and covered with a sticky substance like Tanglefoot have been reported to trap as high as 65% of over wintering codling moths. However, fruit damage was still as high as 43-57% if tree banding was the only codling moth control. Biological: Predation removes 10-20% of codling moth eggs laid in unsprayed orchards. Major predators of codling moth eggs are minute pirate bugs, earwigs, lacewings, predatory thrips, spiders, birds, ground beetles, and native parasitic wasps. Trichogramma wasp releases have been used as one tool in an integrated codling moth control program in Washington state. Codling moth granulosis virus sprayed repeatedly to coincide with egg hatch reduced codling moth injury 60-80% in California tests. In Colorado Organic orchards, granulosis virus (Cydx and Virosoft) is sprayed at 1st hatch (250-300 degree day hours after 1st male moth catch) and then bi-monthly through second generation larval hatch. Colorado orchardists use Spinosad (Entrust) alternating with granulosis bi-monthly. Bacillus thuringiensis may have limited efficacy against codling moth larvae if it is sprayed repeatedly every 3-5 days to coincide with first and second generation larval hatch. It is best used in combination with other management tools. See Bacillus thuringiensis. Traps: Sweet food baits attract Lepidopteran adults and larvae. Codling moths are attracted to molasses and palm sugar bait traps with a 10% solution placed in yellow-jacket domes and put in the lower canopy of trees. More FEMALE codling moths than male codling moths are attracted to molassas traps. Codling moth pheromone traps are available in Missoula at nurseries and garden supply stores. They catch only MALE moths and will not control FEMALE moths in most situations. Pheromone traps are important, however, in order to know when the first codling moth adults appear and thus predict the first larval hatch. Missoula County Extension monitors codling moth development and reports larval hatches on a Pest Alert Phone Line, (406) 258-3820. Blacklight traps which run from sundown until 11 pm reduced CM populations by 39% without catching large numbers of non-target night-flying moths. Mating Disruption: For larger apple blocks(5 acres or more) or neighborhoods, special codling moth pheromone dispensers can be purchased and applied at 400/acre to confuse and prevent male moths from finding and mating with female moths. Mating disruption is not a management tool for less than 5 acres of fruit production. Mating disruption has resulted in successful codling moth control in commercial apple and pear orchards in CA, OR, WA, and VA when codling moth density was low to moderate. Chemical: Spinosad (Entrust, Conserve, etc...) sprayed bimontly when codling moth larvae first hatch has been most effective in combination with bimontly alternating sprays of granulosis virus (Cydx , Madex and Virosoft). Spinosad reportedly increases codling moth sensitivity to other insecticides. Neem (GWN 1535) and pyrethrins or mixes with Rotenone can be sprayed to target first and second generation larval hatch. Kaolin clay (Surround 95 WP) can be sprayed weekly or bi-monthly when apple blossom petals fall and fruit begins to form. “Surround” should be used in conjunction with first and second generation larval sprays since codling moth control is inadequate if used alone. To all chemical sprays add 1 Tbsp/gal. molassas and 1 Tbsp/gal insecticical soap for increased efficacy, spray in the evening. CyDex: CyDex Inc. 10513 W. 84th Terrace Lenexa, KS 66214 • P:913.685.8850 F:913.685.8856 • cd_info@cydexinc.com
Manufacturer: Dow AgroSciences Dow AgroSciences LLC 9330 Zionsville Road Indianapolis, IN 46268 Telephone: 1 800-258-3033 |
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