Codling moth

Cydia pomonella

Codling moth is the most damaging pest of apple, pear, quince and nashi crops in Australia, being endemic to all Australian States and Territories except Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Codling moths also affect walnuts and Japanese plums.

The larvae are internal feeders of the fruit and can decimate crops if not controlled, with one per cent of fruit with damage symptoms being the generally accepted threshold. Varieties that are harvested late in the season, such as Pink Lady are most at risk due to being exposed to the pest for longer periods.

Description

Adult moths are active at dusk in the warmer months, from spring through to autumn. They have mottled grey wings with a dark, iridescent coppery-brown band at the tip with a wingspan of up to 20 mm.

Codling moth larvae look very similar to worms with a dark brown head with a light pink body growing up to 20 mm long when mature.

Larvae penetrate the fruit and create tunnels leaving behind a reddish-brown frass (excreta) as they head toward the seeds. Once mature, the larvae tunnel back to the edge of the fruit. The internal damage created by the burrowing and subsequent breakdown by bacteria often leads to the fruit ripening prematurely and dropping early.

Control

Moth numbers are best monitored by traps. Burlap bands placed around tree trunks can help identify when larvae are about to pupate.

Calypso® is registered for the control of codling moth and it is recommended the first spray be applied at the beginning of egg laying, with a maximum of three additional sprays being applied at 14-day intervals.

In addition to chemical control methods, there are a number of biological control methods that are being used by industry as a broader IPM strategy. These include; pheromone mediated mating disruption, codling moth granulosis virus and parasitic wasps.

Related Pests

Aphids

Toxoptera citricidus - (Black citrus aphid), Uroleucon sonchi - (Brown sowthistle aphid), Brevicoryne brassicae - (Cabbage aphid), Aphis gossypii - (Cotton/melon aphid), Myzus persicae - (Green peach aphid), Lipaphis erysimi - (Turnip aphid), Erisoma lanigerum - (Woolly apple aphid), Rhopalosiphum maidis - (Corn aphid), Nasonovia padi - (Oat/wheat/cereal aphid)

Aphids are common pests across Australia, infesting a wide range of crops including cereals, brassicas (including canola), legumes, citrus, vegetables, stone fruit, cotton, apples and ornamentals. Most species are highly host specific (feeds on one or several closely related genera), however a small number are polyphagous (feeds on a large number of host plants). Typically, aphids become pests during autumn and spring and are the most effective group of insects acting as vectors for plant viruses.

Refer to the links below for more detailed information on different aphid species.

Woolly aphid

Eriosoma lanigerum

A major pest in every apple-growing area of Australia. As well as damaging the fruit, they can affect every part of an apple tree and reduce its overall health.

Oriental fruit moth

Grapholita molesta

A known pest since the early 1930’s, oriental fruit moths (OFM) can infest a range of stone fruit and pome fruit varieties. Damage occurs when larvae feed on shoots and fruit, producing fruit that is unmarketable.

References

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (2016), ‘Codling moth: declared pest’, https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/plant-biosecurity/codling-moth-declared-pest

Herbiguide (2014), ‘Codling moth’, http://www.herbiguide.com.au/Descriptions/hg_Codling_Moth.htm