Goat moth

The Goat moth (lat. Cossus cossus) is a large species of moth from the family Cossidae, belonging to the order Lepidoptera. It is considered a significant wood-boring pest that poses a threat to both fruit orchards and various forest tree species in temperate regions.

This pest affects a variety of broad-leaved trees, including apple, pear, plum, and cherry trees. In forestry, it commonly attacks willow, poplar, birch, and oak trees. Infestations are often more severe in trees that are already stressed or have existing bark injuries.

The biological life cycle of the Goat moth is relatively long, typically spanning two to three years. Adult moths emerge in early summer to lay eggs on the bark. Upon hatching, the larvae burrow into the tree, moving from the bark into the sapwood and heartwood, where they feed extensively and create complex tunnel networks.

The damage is primarily caused by the larvae as they tunnel through the trunk and main branches. This destruction disrupts the flow of nutrients and water, causing significant weakening of the tree, yellowing of foliage, premature fruit drop, and, in severe cases, the death of the tree.

Effective management requires a combination of strategies. Prevention is key: maintaining tree vigor through proper irrigation and fertilization. Once infested, control methods include manually probing and destroying larvae in their tunnels, injecting specialized systemic insecticides into the entry holes, and removing heavily infested, dying trees to reduce the population in the area.