Codling moth

Question 1

Codling moth - order

Answer 1

Lepidoptera - butterflies and moths

Question 2

Codling moth - description

Answer 2

Flying moth
Flies in evening.
Grey/brown wings
8mm long
Dart like wing shape when settled.

Question 3

Codling moth

Area of activity

Answer 3

South, west and midlands of UK.

Common

Question 4

Codling moth

Hosts

Answer 4

Larvae of codling moth eat immature apple fruitlets, also pears to lesser extent.
May also attack walnuts and quince.

Question 5

Codling moth

First symptoms

Answer 5

Small hole on ripening fruit, bordered by zone of red/purple skin exit hole of larvae.
Internal tunnel to core, frass (excreta) and eaten core.
Possibly grub in tunnel

Question 6

Codling moth

Secondary damage.

Answer 6

Excavated tunnels lead to spoilage.
Non damaged parts can be eaten.
Affected fruit are often first to ripen.
Damaged tissue prone to rotting - cannot be stored.

Question 7

Codling moth

Time of year of attack

Answer 7

Attacks apples and pears from midsummer to early autumn.

Question 8

Codling moth.

Where caterpillar forms cocoon.

Answer 8

Caterpillars form a cocoon under loose bark, under tree ties and in other sheltered places. It will stay in cocoon until the next year when moth emerges.

Occasionally there can be a second generation in September.

Question 9

Codling moths.

When are they on the wing?

Answer 9

Adult moths are on the wing inJune/July.

Male finds the female by scent.

Question 10

Codling moth.

Egg laying

Answer 10

Female lays flat, translucent eggs in fruit in early summer.

Eggs hatch in approximately 14 days.

Caterpillar is small, white with brown head.

Question 11

Codling moth.

Damage

Answer 11

Caterpillars tunnel into fruit, often through eye.

Feed on core of fruit.

When mature it will exit fruit leaving small hole on surface of fruit.

Question 12

Codling moth.

Chemical control.

Answer 12

Use before caterpillar enters fruit as the fruit flesh will protect caterpillar.

Contact sprays
Pyrethroid
Deltamethrin
Lambdacyhalothrin 
Diflubenzuron

Systemic acetamiprid.

Applied mid June then second application, three weeks later.

Question 13

Codling moth

Pheromone traps.

Answer 13

Hung in trees in May to catch male moths, may help reduce numbers can also be used to monitor numbers and judge time to spray.

Question 14

Codling moth

Biological control

Answer 14

Mixture of pathogenic nematodes eg.
Steinernema feltiae - sprayed in the trees and soil in the autumn.

Encourage blue tits.

Early varieties may be less vulnerable.