Insect
Oriental Fruit Moth
A small grey moth whose larvae attack shoot tips in spring and then bore into developing fruit from early summer onwards, causing them to drop or rot.
Symptoms to Look For
- Wilting and death of new shoot tips with larvae visible inside
- Frass-plugged entry holes in fruit near the stem end
- Internal tunnelling and browning around the stone in stone fruits
Affected Plants
PeachNectarinePlumApplePearCherryQuince
Organic Solutions
Pheromone mating disruption
Hang pheromone mating disruption ties throughout the tree canopy at petal fall to confuse males and prevent mating across a whole orchard.
Bacillus thuringiensis spray
Apply Bt spray at egg hatch (timed by pheromone trap peaks) to kill young larvae before they enter the fruit.
Prevention
- Thin fruit clusters to single fruits to reduce the probability of larval transfer between touching fruits
- Collect and destroy all dropped fruit every few days during the season
Garden, by Willowbottom recommends only organic, wildlife-friendly solutions. No synthetic pesticides, no harmful chemicals - ever.