Do not underestimate the second generation of fruit worms

In July, plant protection sprays against the second generation of fruit moths in orchard crops must not be underestimated. In orchard crops not affected by spring frosts, treatments against the second generation of fruit moths must be continued. Treatments against diseases and pests should be carried out during the cooler hours of the day.

Oriental fruit moth

Species – Grapholita Cydia molesta

Symptoms

Damaged fruits become deformed or rot. They show signs of premature ripening and drop. The larva bores laterally, at the points of contact between fruits or near the stalk. Gummosis is often observed.

Life cycle

In July, moths of the second generation of the pest fly and lay eggs. The larvae of the third generation damage mainly the fruits.

The larvae of the oriental fruit moth are attacked by a large number of parasitoids. The braconid Ascogaster quadridentatus Wesm. is of greatest importance.

Control

Strict quarantine control is necessary in order to limit the spread of the oriental fruit moth, by carrying out annual inspections in orchards for its timely detection. The beginning of the flight and its dynamics of the oriental fruit moth are determined with pheromone traps (Isomate – OFM TT - 25 dispensers/da).

Chemical control is carried out at ETL:

-during the vegetation period – 10-15 moths /trap/week;  

-young orchards – 2-3% infested shoots by the larva;

-fruit-bearing orchards - 5% damaged shoots or 2-4% infested fruits by the larva.

Authorised PPPs:

Affirm Opti – 200-225 g/da, Deka EC / Desha EC/Dena EC - 50 – 70 ml/da; Dipel DF – 50 - 150 g/da  Decis 100 EC  – 7.5 - 12.5 ml/da; Voliam Targo 063 SC – 75 ml/da, Delegate 250 WG – 30 g/da,  Coragen 20 SC – 16-30 ml/da, Lamadex Extra - 70 g/da, Meteor - 90 ml/da, Sumi Alpha 5 EC - 0.02%, Carpovirusine – 100 ml/da

Coddling moth

Species – Laspeyresia pomonella = Cydia pomonella

Symptoms

One larva damages 2-3 fruits. The damaged young fruits drop, and moulds develop in their core.

Life cycle

In June, larvae of the first generation cause damage. The damage often remains unnoticed due to the June drop of fruitlets. After feeding, the larva leaves the damaged fruit. It descends on a silken thread or crawls along the trunk and makes a cocoon in the bark cracks, in which it pupates. The larvae of the second generation of codling moths are extremely dangerous for fruit trees in August. They usually cause mass worm infestation of the fruits. Farmers are advised to seek information from local plant protection services, which monitor pest development by regions.

Control

Chemical treatment is carried out against hatching larvae, before they bore into the fruits, at an economic threshold level (ETL) for the first generation: 0.8-1% fresh entries in the fruits.

For the control of the codling moth, one of the following insecticides is added to the fungicide spray solution: Affirm 095 SG - 300 g/da  plus a spreader-sticker for better effect,  Aficar 100 EC - 30 ml/da, Affirm Opti  - 200 g/da, Voliam Targo 063 SC - 75 ml/da, Delegate 250 WG - 30 g/da (grace period for use – 30.12.2024), Decis 100 EC - 7.5-12.5 ml/da,  Deka EC/Desha EC/Dena EC/Poleci/Decision - 30 ml/da, Efcymerin 10 EC/Zaiper 10 EC – 30 ml/da, Coragen 20 SC – 16-30 ml/da, Meteor – 0.06%, Sineis 480 SC – 30-43.7 ml/da, Sumi Alpha 5 EC – 0.02%, Harpoon – 100 ml/da, Cyclone 10 EC – 30 ml/da. Of the listed insecticides,  Affirm 095 SG - 300 g/da  plus 0.02% Break-Thru spreader-sticker,  Aficar 100 EC - 30 ml/da, Affirm Opti  - 200 g/da, Voliam Targo 063 SC - 75 ml/da, Delegate 250 WG - 30 g/da,  Ducat 25 EC – 30 ml/da, Efcymerin 10 EC – 30 ml/da, Calypso 480 SC – 20-25 ml/da, Coragen 20 SC – 16-30 ml/da, Sineis 480 SC – 30-43.7 ml/da, Sumi Alpha 5 EC – 0.02%, Cyclone 10 EC – 30 ml/da are also effective against leaf miners. For the control of the codling moth, the bioinsecticides Carpovirusine – 100 ml/da,  Madex TOP – 10 ml/da and Madex TWIN – 10 ml/da can also be used, which are applied at mass flight and more precisely before egg hatching.

Plum fruit moth

Species – Cydia funebrana

Symptoms

The larvae feed on the fleshy part of the fruits, boring galleries directed towards the stalk. The damaged fruits stop growing, acquire a violet tint and after some time drop together with the larvae inside them, which continue feeding within the fruit. After completing their development, they leave the fruits and pupate in a cocoon under the cracked bark at the base of the trunk or under various plant residues on the soil surface.

Life cycle

The plum fruit moth has two generations per year, and in years with a warm summer it may develop a third generation. Hatching of the larvae of the first generation begins at the end of May - beginning of June. Moths of the second generation start laying eggs from mid-July, with mass oviposition coinciding with mass flight. The second generation causes much more damage than the first.

Control

Against the separate generations of the plum fruit moth, one to two treatments are carried out. In case of mass multiplication of the second generation and development of a partial third, a third spraying is required.

Affirm Opti  - 250 g/da, Decis 2.5 EC - 0.05%;  Coragen 20 SC - 16-30 ml/da; Sumi Alpha 5 EC/ Sumicidin 5 EC/ Oasis 5 EC - 0.02%; Deka EC/ Desha EC/ Dena EC/ Poleci/ Decision - 50-70 ml/da;

*The article was updated on 12.07.2025