What does the codling moth look like and how to deal with it?

The apple moth is a common garden pest that is a nondescript butterfly. Let's talk about what this insect looks like, what harm it does to fruit trees, and how you can fight it.

The apple moth is a moth, which is a type of agricultural pest that belongs to the order Lepidoptera. This insect can often be found in the garden on fruit trees: on an apple, plum, pear and peach tree. It is often found in the summer in the European part of Russia, as well as in the Caucasian regions, in Ukraine. This harmful insect inflicts the greatest damage on fruit trees that are grown in the Crimea and the steppe zone of Ukraine.

This butterfly looks rather inconspicuous and does not differ in anything remarkable. Its wings are serous in color with dark stripes, while yellowish circles can be seen at each of their tips. Their scope can reach about 18 millimeters. The second pair of wings of this butterfly is somewhat lighter, and a fringe can be seen at their tips.

These harmful butterflies are activated at night when the weather is calm. And a week after the flowering of the apple tree begins, it begins to actively lay eggs. This happens mainly in warm times, when the weather is calm and sunny, and the temperature of the air masses exceeds +16 degrees.

The eggs of this pest have a rounded elongated shape, pale green color, and their size does not exceed a millimeter. Most often, such eggs are placed in pairs, and they can be found on the upper side of apple foliage. After 7-14 days, depending on how favorable the environmental conditions are, the caterpillars of the codling moth begin to hatch from these eggs. They are the most harmful to garden plants.

The larvae of this butterfly can often be found inside apples. Among the people, such fruits are called wormy, and the caterpillars themselves are called worms. Such a caterpillar has a yellowish-green or light pink color with a dark brown head.

However, the harmful insect does not begin to attack the fruits immediately. At first, she gains strength and eats soft leaves to get stronger. But after a week or even less, it begins to actively attack the fruits themselves. So, one caterpillar in its entire life during this phase can damage about 3 apples.

After a while, the worm begins to pupate, which happens on the back of the apple foliage, after which a full-fledged butterfly appears, and then eggs and larvae again. Thus in just one season, under favorable conditions, as many as 4 generations of worms can appear.

Winter frosts are not terrible for such pests. The formed caterpillars spend wintering mainly in light-colored cocoons, and some hide in the ground or under plant debris that remained after the final harvest. By spring, the remaining caterpillars begin to pupate again, after which, by the end of May or by the beginning of June, a whole pack of new codling moths can be seen in the garden. By July, if they are not eliminated, they can multiply in large numbers and spoil a huge part of the harvest.

The codling moth bears the greatest harm to the fruit.At best, it simply spoils their presentation. The worm penetrates into the apple, as evidenced by the presence of 1-2 holes on them. It feeds inside the pulp of the fruit, constantly moving inside it, and it closes the opening for the entrance with the help of stubs and cobwebs. When a caterpillar nibbles seeds from the seed chamber of a fruit, it moves to another fruit.

In order to detect the appearance of a pest in time and save a tree, you need to know what signs indicate its appearance.

The most obvious sign is the presence of a large number of harmful butterflies, which spread the worms. Having examined the tree, you can easily notice empty cocoons on them, which indicate that the butterflies have flown out.

Apple fruits, not fully ripe, begin to actively fall off. At the same time, you can see the sealed holes on them. Their presence indicates that the apples are affected or wormy.

It is not difficult to notice a large number of caterpillars on the plant or inside its fruits.

Besides, with the advent of the pest, young shoots begin to actively dry out.

This method helps not only to eliminate the parasite at the beginning of its appearance, but also to independently track its number. It involves self-tracking the number of insects, which is done in order to easily determine how neglected the situation is. To do this, you need pheromone traps - one for every 5 fruit trees. They are placed throughout the site, after which they track the number of butterflies that managed to get there in one week. So, if their number exceeds 5 pieces, then it is recommended to resort to the most effective measures - for example, chemicals.

The method has a lot of advantages:

• it is completely harmless to both animals and humans;

• if used in a timely manner, it is highly effective and, if not started, can fully protect your trees from parasites.

Such traps can be either purchased in the store or made with your own hands.

To make the device yourself, you will need a cardboard box, which must be disassembled at the seams. Its three sides need to be fastened together with staples to form something like a prism. At the tops of each of the covers, a hole is made, with the help of which the two sides must be fastened with a wire - it is on it that the trap is attached to the desired tree. Inside, they make something like a trap, for which they use an insert, applying glue to it with strong fixation. Most often, such products are intended for rodents. If you do not have special capsules with enzymes, then sweet kvass or compote will perfectly fit the role of pheromones.

This method of struggle quickly helps to get rid of harmful insects, including the apple moth. The method involves treating the plant with toxic substances - insecticides.

Spraying a tree with such preparations should take place in the season between the pest's egg-laying and the development of its worms. Basically, this moment occurs in late spring or early summer.

It is necessary to process the plant as many times as required by its variety. So, for early apple trees, about 3 sprays are required. Later varieties will have to be sprayed 3-4 times.Most later, they often require as many as 7 treatments for the entire season.

The best drugs of this type are Proteus, Arrivo, Ditox, Fufanon.

The use of such funds helps to quickly get rid of the moth, but if used improperly, there is a risk of poisoning the crop or harming oneself. When processing, it is recommended to strictly follow the instructions, observe the dosage, safety measures and use personal protective equipment.

Pesticides are another type of chemical. Among them, drugs such as organophosphates, pyrethroids and neonicotinoids are distinguished. To the first, if we talk about the most effective means, include "Aktellik" and "Pirimifos-methyl", the second include "Kinmix", "Karate-Zeon" and "Sumi-alpha", the third - "Talstar", "Fastak", "Tanrek "," Confidor ".

Folk remedies are less effective than pesticides and insecticides. However, they are non-toxic, less expensive in terms of finance, and you can make them yourself at home. Such methods of fighting the moth is recommended to be used only in those cases if you were able to notice the appearance of the pest in a timely manner. In this case, these products will help scare the harmful insect away from your trees and protect it.

So, Of all the folk remedies, a solution based on needles has proven itself best. To prepare it, you will need 1 kilogram of such a product in ground form and 10 liters of heated water. All this must be stirred and infused for about 5 hours. The solution can then be used in the garden. Note that 10 liters of solution is only enough for 1 apple tree. You need to spray all trees without exception, otherwise there is a high probability that the pest will simply move to another tree that has not been treated.

A tobacco-based infusion also showed itself well in business. The apple moth simply does not tolerate its smell, and therefore this remedy in the fight against it is effective. It can not only scare away insects, but also exterminate them. So, to prepare the solution, you will need 200 grams of dry tobacco, a liter of water and a day for tincture. It is necessary to insist the solution in a tightly closed container, then the resulting solution must be diluted in a bucket of water, after which processing can be carried out. The first time, this should be done immediately after the flowering phase.

Please note that tobacco-based mixture, like chemicals, is toxic to humans. It must be used with care, observing safety precautions and using personal protective equipment.

Another effective remedy is a tincture made on the basis of wormwood and tansy. This tool can not only get rid of the pest, but also prevent its occurrence in the future. To prepare the product, you will need a kilogram of tansy and herbs and 100 liters of water - the solution is calculated for 10 trees. If you need less, then you need to take 10% of the total amount of water. At the same time, keep in mind that each tree will require 10 liters of the product.

A decoction based on red pepper will be no less effective. You will need 0.5 kilograms of the main component and 2 liters of water. All this needs to be boiled for 2 hours, covered with a lid, and then insisted for another 2 days. After this time, the solution must be filtered and diluted. For every 0.5 liters of solution, add a bucket of water and 50 grams of soap. Store the rest of the product in a closed container until the next spraying.

In general, such remedies help well to scare away the apple moth. However, the treatment is best done several times, starting from the moment after the flowering of apple trees and 2 more times with a frequency of 2 weeks. Spraying is best done in the evening, when the weather is calm.

Preventive measures do not help control the apple moth, but they can provide protection to the fruit tree and prevent the emergence and spread of the pest.

So, first of all, it is necessary to clean up old plant residues every year, since harmful worms most often hibernate under them or on them. It is recommended that such residues be burned or sent to a compost pit.

Not far from the apple trees, it is recommended to plant tomatoes, which will scare off the butterfly, since it does not like such fruits very much.

In the spring, it is recommended to treat the tree with copper sulfate.

Periodically, it is also necessary to clean up old sections of the bark, since there are often parasite pupae in it. If hollows and cracks appear on the tree, then they must be well repaired.

Fruit trees should be inspected on a regular basis. For greater efficiency and prevention, you can also use a tool such as a pheromone trap, and for catching caterpillars - trapping belts.