Codling moth

The codling moth (lat. Cydia pomonella) is a notorious pest belonging to the order Lepidoptera and the family Tortricidae. It is considered one of the most destructive insects globally for pomaceous fruit production, requiring constant monitoring and management strategies.

Its primary host is the domestic apple tree, though it frequently attacks pears, walnuts, and quinces. It is important to clarify that crops such as fodder beet, winter rapeseed, cabbage, cucumber, sunflower, winter barley, and common hops are not affected by this specific pest, as its life cycle is highly specialized for fruit-bearing trees.

The codling moth typically completes one to three generations per year, depending on the latitude. The insect overwinters as mature larvae inside silk cocoons hidden under loose bark or within soil crevices. Moths emerge in the spring, and mating occurs shortly thereafter, with females laying eggs on leaves or young fruitlets.

Damage is caused by the larvae, which burrow into the fruit shortly after hatching. They head towards the core, feeding on the seeds. This leads to premature fruit drop and allows secondary infections, such as rots or fungal growth, to colonize the interior, rendering the harvest commercially valueless.

Effective control requires an integrated approach. Growers should focus on sanitation, such as removing dropped fruit, and the use of pheromone traps to time insecticide applications accurately. Biological control agents, including parasitic wasps and granulovirus formulations, are also becoming increasingly common in modern orchard management to reduce reliance on broad-spectrum chemicals.