Apple growers should begin hanging traps in the Pacific Northwest to monitor for Codling moth (Cydia pomonella) soon. Now is a great time to refresh your knowledge on CM monitoring using traps and lures.
Suterra offers several effective options for codling moth monitoring. For growers not using mating disruption, Suterra’s CM 1x Biolure® is the ideal product for your orchard. CM 1x Biolure contains the standard amount of pheromone that has historically been used to monitor codling moth populations.
In orchards where mating disruption is used, more concentrated products (often referred to as high-load lures) may be used. As the name suggests, Suterra's CM 10x Biolure® has a much higher load of pheromone than the CM 1x BioLure, and is strong enough to attract male moths even in the presence of mating disruption.
For growers using mating disruption and interested in more population data, Suterra's BioLure® Combo CM combines pear ester kairomone and codling moth pheromone into one lure to attract both male and female moths to traps. Both BioLure high-load and combo lures can be used in conjunction with Suterra’s Checkmate® dispensers and Puffer® aerosol solutions for codling moth.
In orchards with mating disruption, it is good practice to use Suterra's CM 1x BioLure alongside high-load or combo lures to track populations. That is because in the presence of mating disruption, the CM 1x BioLure acts as an indicator to show that your mating disruption solutions are emitting effective amounts of pheromone into the environment.
Large Plastic Delta traps (LPDs) are available from Suterra for monitoring codling moth. First assemble the orange trap, slide the grided sticky liner into the bottom of the trap, peel off the outer layer of BioLure to activate, then adhere the lure to the inner wall of the trap. Once the protective layer has been removed from the BioLure, the trap will begin to emit pheromones and attract moths.
Traps should be hung before the first moth emergence is anticipated (moths typically appear in March or April, depending on geography and climate year to year). At the latest, hang traps before the pink stage of apple flower-bud development. Traps should be hung in the top third of the tree canopy and should be distanced from mating disruption products in the orchard.
Pheromone traps should be serviced bi-weekly. Count the number of moths on each sticky liner to track codling moth flights and pressure over the season. Replace sticky liners at each trap check. Suterra BioLures only need to be replaced every eight weeks, but should be kept in cold storage prior to use.
Apple growers should also conduct visual examinations of their fruit to identify the extent of codling moth activity. Apples should be inspected at least three times per year; at the end of the first flight, in July, and before harvest. At each inspection, survey 30 to 40 apples from 40 trees per every 10 acres of orchard. Codling moth prefer the upper half of trees, so it is good practice to prioritize samples from this section.
Codling moth larvae cause two types of damage to apples, which both impact the fruit's marketability. Sting damage or "stings" occur when larvae burrows into fruit. On mature apples, you may notice a reddish ring around the site of a sting. Another type of damage referred to as "Deep entries" occur when larvae burrow all the way to the core of the fruit. Deep entries are particularly concerning because they provide a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, potentially causing fruit rot. They are distinguishable from stings by the presence of frass (insect excrement) around the feeding site.
Codling moth adults have several distinct characteristics that can help growers identify them from similar looking moth species. One key characteristic of codling moth are the reflective coppery band of scales on the end of its wings. The rest of their wings are a mottled brown-grayish color. They are roughly ½- to ¾-inch in length and keep their wings tented over their bodies when resting.
For growers using CMDA lures and capturing both male and female moths it may be difficult to differentiate between the two. Spotting the difference between sexes is often possible with the aid of a hand lens. Keep in mind that males have thin, black hairs on the underside of their forewings, and the tip of their abdomen is colored differently than the rest of their body (
Metallic copper wing tips are present on both sexes.
If you find significant codling moth pressure in your orchard, you should consider taking action. In general, growers should adopt management methods when more than 0.5% of their fruit shows signs of codling moth damage. If you aren’t already using mating disruption, consider adding this technology to your pest management program. Mating disruption inhibits the male codling moth's ability to find female mates, and years of research has shown its effectiveness in reducing populations and damage.
If you have inquiries about monitoring methods or mating disruption, Suterra is happy to help. Contact your local representative or contact us with the email form provided here.