Home Control of the Oriental Fruit Moth

Description

• The adult moth is gray and mottled and measures ¼ inch long. The wings grow in the form of a roof over the body with a ½-inch span. The white, oval eggs are flat and found mostly on foliage undersides, twigs or on new leaf terminals. Cream colored larvae have black heads and measure 1/16 inch long. The larvae measure 4/10 inch and turn slightly pink at maturity. Oriental fruit moth larvae have four pairs of prolegs and three pairs of true legs.

Damage

• The pest is most damaging to trees in its larval stage, and causes extensive damage to the shoots and fruit. Immediately upon hatching, the larvae start to feed on the tips of shoots. The pests usually enter the fruit from the stem end but can also enter from other spots, especially at sites where two fruits are in contact with each other. The insect tunnel to the center of the fruit and eat their way all around the pit. Mature larvae leave the fruit and pupate in the soil.

Chemical Control

• The best time to start controlling the pests is during their second flight. This usually occurs at weather temperatures ranging between 45 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Recommended insecticides include spinetoram, phosmet, methoxyfenozide, flubendiamide, and chlorantraniliprole. All chemicals are sold under different trade names. Time applications carefully so that the newly hatching larvae are killed before they tunnel into the fruit. Fruit at the top of trees is attacked more frequently.

Biological Control

• Introducing the parasite Macrocentrus ancylivorus into the infested tree is a biological strategy for pest control. Trees that are minimally exposed to broad spectrum insecticides allow the parasite to thrive readily, allowing population to reach 80 to 90 percent levels by fall. This helps to provide long term control of the oriental fruit moth. Planting sunflowers near susceptible trees in April and late May control the pest with the sunflower moth that overwinters in sunflower plants.