Codling moth control

So Mark,
What do you find most effective? I usually have good success with Surround, but this year oddly my Chehellis variety would not allow the spray to coat each apple, so codling moths had a ball!
My other trees no problem
Dennis

I think what has worked best for me is Spinosad and Sprectracide’s Triazicide. I like to use Triazicide for the first generation spray, followed soon after by a spinosad spray. On the second generation I do the same, and on any later generations I just use spinosad, two sprays spaced four days apart. I’ve been known to mix them both in the tank. I used Surround one year but just didn’t like working with it, didn’t keep it on the fruit well enough, and didn’t like even working in the tree when it was on!

This year I decided to switch out to Malathion and it was a disaster. I don’t know if my timing was off or if it was the Malathion. I suspect that next year I’ll go back to my old routine and hope the bugs don’t get too used to it.

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That’s a good program.

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Tell us more about that blacklight?

Stephan Sobkowiak uses molasses traps… i plan on using the same once my trees mature more.

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This is the blacklight.
IMG_1094

Heard a lot of zaps when it was on from 8pm to 11pm. Found plenty of moth carcasses, no bees. I did not ID the moths.

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I see what looks like that unit on Amazon for about 65.00: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09131QBPC/ref=sbl_dpx_outdoor-bug-zappers_B01F1TGEOK_0 Does that look like the same thing to you?

I see they are advertising it for mosquito control and include an attractant. Did you use pheromone attractants? I know you mentioned them in your post.

Thanks for your help.

A “bug light” like that will likely kill any insect indiscriminately, if it’s attracted to the light. I assume all moths would be attracted? Besides Coddling Moth, are all other moths also “bad”?

I totally agree …and was the reason it hesitated. Yet putting out molasses attracts nectar-loving insects and label on Trizicide says its “fast-acting formula that kills 260+ listed insects by contact.” So lots of bad choices.

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I’d guess the pheromone attractant probably was for mosquitoes. This used one ($15) came without pheromone.

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Hi Christine
“I used these Delta traps with lures and sticky liner last year and still had a lot of stings.”
I am a little confused when you use “stings”, I often describe Apple fly maggot infections as Stings, but with Codling Moth, the exterior and interior looks more like a full blown infection as in below pics.




In the last pic I show a closeup to show no evidence of apple fly maggot, so somehow my surround has them controlled but certainly not the codling moth.
So are we referring to the same type of infection when you say stings?
If so you may be on to a good solution for me to try.
Please explain
Dennis

I use the term “stings” referring to CM infestation too, but that is a superficial scar, which happens, I think, when the just-hatched larva dies from poison before getting very far. Those are ultimately not very important -just little “stings”. But the tunnels pretty much ruin an apple.

I am using the word ‘stings’ similar to the below description from UC IPM. I think the evidence of frass is a good superficial distinguishing characteristic between apple maggot damage and CM damage. The interior damage on your apples does look like CM.

Codling moth has the greatest potential for damage of any apple pest, yet it can be effectively controlled with properly timed treatments. It causes two types of fruit damage: stings and deep entries. Stings are entries where larvae bore into the flesh a short distance before dying. Deep entries occur when larvae penetrate the fruit skin, bore to the core, and feed in the seed cavity. (from https://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/apple/Codling-moth/#IMPORTANT)

The use of UV light was common in 1965 for CM control:
https://calag.ucanr.edu/download_pdf.cfm?article=ca.v019n10p6

This expensive biological control: CYD-X

might be something others members have had experience with.

If you check the Guides Category, Scott has posted about his low impact spray that include several products you guys mentioned here.

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Thanks Christine,
How far from your apple trees was the lamp positioned? And did you use any pheromone attractants? How close do moths need to be for effective killing?
Dennis
Kent, wa

The UV light was probably 50-200 feet from various apple trees. I didn’t use any pheromone attractants. Even though all my apples look clean this year, I really don’t know if it was because of the light.
A neighbor a mile away complained about the CM and maggot damage to his William’s Pride apples. Another neighbor brought over some Gravensteins that were very CM damaged. So I imagine CM were flying around my place too.

I think you have found something worth knowing, I will definitely be plugging one in next spring about as soon as my fruit comes out of blossom and sets fruit. Thanks for letting us know. I will still need to continue with surround to assure apple fly maggot is controlled, but this is much better than using chemical if it really works.
Dennis
Kent, wa

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I will use your program next year in with my Surround in addition to Christine’s black light! Your program will be necessary for my neighbors trees too far away for my black light to reach. That should take care of most of my pests!
Thanks to you both for excellent info!
Dennis

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These pheromone traps are good where isolated populations exist such as in large plantations. In backyards they attract males but do little to reduce the incidence of bred females. This is because the pheromone exuded does not cover a large enough area, and bred females enter from surrounding untreated properties.

This does not mean that pheromone traps have no place in the backyard. They certainly do, but their use should be to detect the presence of adults in advance of egg laying, not for mating disruption. After the appropriate growing degree days have elapsed since adults are detected (biofix), chemical treatment may then be applied to kill the eggs and/or larvae before they enter the fruit.

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Seems to me I these traps are pretty expensive. Especially if you have a lot of trees. I looked at them some years ago and you would have to have one in each tree. And replace them if they get “full”. Perhaps I am wrong.