Leopard moth

The Leopard moth (Zeuzera pyrina) is a moth species belonging to the order Lepidoptera and the family Cossidae. It is a well-known wood-boring pest that poses a significant threat to orchards and ornamental landscapes globally due to its cryptic feeding habits.

This species is highly polyphagous, infesting a wide range of fruit trees such as apple, pear, cherry, and plum, as well as various deciduous forest trees like elm, ash, and maple. While infestations can occur in vigorous trees, they are particularly devastating to young saplings and stressed vegetation.

The life cycle typically spans two years. Larvae spend almost this entire period tunneling through branches and trunks, feeding on the woody tissue. The adult moths, characterized by white wings with bluish-black spots, emerge during the summer to mate and lay eggs in bark crevices.

Larval boring causes severe internal damage, disrupting the transport of water and nutrients within the tree. Symptoms include wilting branches, crown dieback, and the presence of frass (resembling sawdust) near entry holes. Over time, these structural weaknesses lead to significant branch breakage.

Effective management strategies are essential to protect tree health:

• Pruning and destroying infested branches promptly.
• Mechanical removal or injection of insecticides into larval tunnels.
• Monitoring populations using pheromone traps during the summer months.
• Applying systemic insecticides when young larvae are newly hatched and mobile.