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The Codling moth and its larvae are severe pests to
Apples, Plums and Pears. The larvae burrow into the center of the fruit
and eat out channels within the fruit which makes them inedible - or for
commercial growers - unsalable.
Treatment
It is often written and thought that grease bands
applied to the trunk of fruit trees will help to trap or deter the
codling moth. Absolute nonsense! No protection from the Codling Moth
with grease bands - Codling Moths can fly!
Spray with Bifenthrin two or three times from
early June - AFTER the flowers have set, or use a Pheromone insect trap.
The trap attracts the the males into thinking it is the scent of the
female! This will give you an idea of the numbers and timing of the
codling Moths in your orchard etc, and you can adjust your spraying
programme accordingly.
Killing Codling Moth - or even any
degree of control is dependent upon timing, and as such is normally
outside the scope of the amateur gardener with perhaps the odd tree or
two. However, if you want to be the local 'anorak' at dinner parties, it
is an interesting subject - for some. |
