Codling moth
Protect your apples and pears from codling moth larvae damage.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to act | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
The adult codling moths lay their eggs on or near developing fruit. These eggs hatch into small white caterpillars, which eat their way into the fruit and feed inside while it's developing. The caterpillars may be found inside the fruit at harvest time, but have usually eaten their way out to overwinter on the bark of the tree. They will then pupate and hatch into adult moths the following spring, ready to mate.
Symptoms
Holes often visible in ripe fruit. When the fruit is cut open, the tunnel made by the maggot-like caterpillar will be seen, lined with its droppings or frass.
Find it on
apples, pears, quince, walnuts
Organic
Remove infected fruit as soon as any damage is evident to limit overwintering caterpillars. Control is available in the form of pheromone traps that catch male moths in April and May.
October issue on sale now!
The October issue of BBC Gardeners' World magazine is on sale now, buy online or in stores now.
Plant of the Week: Agapanthus 'Fireworks'
This week, save up to 66 per cent on 9cm potted plants, with prices starting as low as £8.
Offer ends 23.59, Sunday 29 September.
Spend less on your autumn shopping
This month, we're offering all BBC Gardeners' World Magazine readers a 15%* saving across our specially selected partner websites - so you can find everything you need while saving £££s.
*Exclusions apply. Offer excludes delivery and some products. Not valid with any other offer.
Offer ends 23.59, Thursday 31 October.
