Apple codling moth: control measures, photos, when to process

The codling moth is a dangerous pest that feeds on the pulp of apples, peaches, plums and other fruits. Can cause serious damage, up to 100% yield loss. Caterpillars and codling moth butterflies are ubiquitous and pose a danger to personal and farm households. To combat them, they use mechanical, agrotechnical methods, and also use special preparations and proven folk remedies.

Description of the apple codling moth

The apple codling moth is a dangerous pest from the order Lepidoptera (refers to insects). It is a butterfly that infects an apple tree and other garden trees. Widespread in most temperate regions. At the same time, in the northern regions and the middle lane it gives one generation each, in the south – two, and in Central Asia – three at once.

The apple codling moth goes through several stages of development:

1. Imago is a dark gray butterfly with a small wingspan (up to 2 cm). The body is also small – up to 1 cm in length. When an insect sits, its wings are folded together in a “house”.
2. Eggs are shiny, translucent small balls up to 1 mm in diameter, may be greenish-white in color.
3. Larvae (caterpillars) are quite long (up to 2 cm). The color on the outside is flesh-pink, on the underside it is yellowish-white. At the base of the body, large light-brown scutes are visible.
4. The pupa is also visible to the naked eye. It reaches a length of 12 mm, the color is light brown with a hint of golden. The abdomen has eight hook-shaped setae on the posterior side.

What culture strikes

The apple codling moth is distributed everywhere from the countries of Western Europe to the Far East. Also, the habitat covers Africa, the countries of the Middle East, North and South America and even Australia. The codling moth affects not only the apple tree, but also many other crops: pear, peach, plum, apricot, quince, walnut.

Codling moth caterpillars on an apple tree can be seen with the naked eye

What harm does

The name of the pest is due to the fact that it damages the fruits. Caterpillars gnaw through the surface of the apple and feed on its juices and pulp. As a result, the fruits lag behind in development, become smaller and eventually fall off. Such apples are unsuitable for food, even if they are used for processing.

Caterpillars enter the fruit through the petiole fossa, as well as damage on the surface of the peel, often under the cover of a leaf plate. They can move freely between 2-3 apples if they are in close contact with each other. When the damaged fruit falls, the codling moth leaves it. After 1-2 days, it again rises along the tree trunk closer to the crown.

The insect is very voracious, it can ruin literally all the fruits. It does not threaten the life of the apple tree, but significantly weakens the health of the plant. Crop losses if no action is taken can reach 80-100%. Therefore, if pests are detected, they must be destroyed immediately.

It is better to wait until the next season, carefully remove all plant debris, and carry out several preventive treatments in early spring and summer.

Signs of the presence of an apple codling moth

You can see the codling moth on an apple tree (pictured) visually. Among the main signs of damage are the following:

• fruits shrink;
• brown lesions appear on the surface;
• when cutting an apple, you can see a reddish-brown rot and the caterpillar itself;
• the seed chamber is empty;
• inside a lot of dark excrement.

The fruit of the apple tree, affected by the codling moth, is easy to identify upon examination

When to process apple trees from codling moth

During the season, the insect gives several generations. Therefore, for prevention and treatment, several sprays with drugs or folk remedies should be done. Experienced gardeners recommend taking the following scheme as a basis:

1. The first treatment of apple trees from the codling moth is carried out in the spring, at the end of flowering (often in early June). It is necessary to start spraying at the time of the emergence of the first caterpillars, without waiting for their mass distribution.
2. The second spraying – in the first decade of July, when the second generation is formed.
3. The third treatment is 15-20 days after the second. Those. as early as the beginning of August.

The number of treatments can be up to seven times, it all depends on the characteristics of a particular variety. For early-ripening apple trees, three sprays are enough, for mid-ripening – four, for late ones, 5-7 treatments may be needed.

Methods of dealing with codling moth on an apple tree

There are many ways to deal with apple codling moth. First, the caterpillars are harvested by hand – this is not so difficult if the invasion is insignificant. You can also use traps, after which it is imperative to carry out treatment with drugs or folk remedies.

Mechanical method

This is the simplest and most effective way to fight, with which treatment usually begins. Main measures:

• collection of caterpillars by hand;
• destruction of wintering individuals under the bark of the bole (lower part of the trunk);
• installation of hunting belts, traps with pheromones;
• washing caterpillars with water (only at the end of the day to prevent sunburn).

At the first stage, the caterpillars of the apple codling moth must be harvested manually

Agrotechnical events

For effective prevention and disposal of apple codling moths, agrotechnical methods are also used:

1. In spring and autumn, the trunk and branches are cleaned from the old bark.
2. The container from under the collected apples is scalded with boiling water.
3. The soil in the near-stem circle in the fall is carefully dug up and treated with a fungicide.
4. During the shaking or flushing of the caterpillars, a dense cloth is laid on the ground, then the fallen codling moths are destroyed manually.

Chemical preparations for codling moth on apples

Spraying apple trees from the codling moth with chemicals is recommended in cases where folk remedies do not help, and the invasion is quite strong. They can also be used for preventive treatments in March, April and May. Among the main chemical insecticides against the apple pest, the following can be distinguished:

• “Stozhar, RP”;
• “Karbofos, KE”;
• “Aliot, KE”;
• “Herold, VSK”;
• “Vanteks, ISS”;
• “Ditoks, KE”;
• “Alatar”;
• “Calypso, KS”;
• “Aktellik, KE”;
• «Gladiator, CS»;
• “Fufanon, KE”;
• “Accord, KE”;
• Tanrek
• “Confidor”;
• “Taran”
• “Talstar”;
• “Fastak”.
• “Bi-58, KE” and others.

The preparations are dissolved in water according to the instructions, poured into a spray bottle and proceed to the total processing of both diseased and healthy apple trees. In order for the product to work as efficiently as possible, it is better to schedule spraying for the late evening, and the weather should be dry and calm.

Biological preparations for codling moth on an apple tree

Biological preparations are used during the fruiting of the apple tree. Their main advantage is short waiting times – 3-5 days. After this time, you can harvest without fear for health.

The main biological preparations for codling moths:

• “Lepidocide”;
• “Fitoverm”;
• “Vertimek”;
• “Bitoxibacillin”.

Trichograms are used to destroy apple pests

Small parasitic insects that feed on the eggs of the apple codling moth multiply rapidly and prevent the spread of the pest, destroying it.

“Fitoverm” is one of the effective biological insecticides for the destruction of the apple codling moth

They lay their larvae in the eggs of the codling moth. They are also used to kill moths and leafworms.

Folk remedies for codling moth on an apple tree

In horticultural practice, folk remedies are also used from the apple codling moth. They help in the early stages. They are used for prevention. Folk remedies are suitable for processing during fruiting. Some of the more popular recipes include:

1. Infusions of various herbs (1 kg per 10 liters of warm water) – burdock, wormwood, tansy, needles.
2. Planting fragrant plants in the near-trunk circle or near it – dill, phacelia, anise.
3. A decoction of 250 g of tobacco dust in 5 liters of hot water. It is necessary to insist for two days, then boil and add another 5 liters of water. Strain and start processing.

How to protect an apple tree from codling moth

Fighting the codling moth on apple trees is more difficult than preventing an invasion. To minimize the risks, it is recommended to follow the basic preventive measures:

1. In the spring, preventive treatment with insecticides is mandatory, even if there has been no invasion in recent years.
2. In autumn, all fallen leaves and branches are carefully removed, carried away and burned.
3. In the spring, sanitary pruning is carried out, removing old and dried branches. Slices are sprinkled with charcoal powder.
4. For the winter, trunk circles are covered with roofing material, film, coconut fiber.
5. In the spring, mustard or other green manure can be planted around the trees. They will not only prevent the invasion of the codling moth, but also saturate the soil with valuable nitrogen compounds.

Conclusion

Apple codling moth can cause great harm. It is quite possible to completely cope with this insect. To do this, it is necessary to carefully observe preventive measures, and most importantly, to carry out several treatments in spring and summer. It is best to use several tools. Chemical and biological insecticides are suitable for control.