Insect
Pomegranate Butterfly
A striking blue and black butterfly whose caterpillars bore into pomegranate fruits and flower buds, causing premature fruit drop and reducing yield significantly.
Symptoms to Look For
- Entry holes in developing fruits covered with frass
- Fruits dropping prematurely with larvae found inside on dissection
- Flower buds hollowed out before they can open
Affected Plants
Pomegranate
Organic Solutions
Bag fruits
Slip paper or muslin bags over individual fruits after fruit set to physically exclude egg-laying females.
Remove infested fruit
Collect and destroy all infested fruits immediately to prevent larvae completing development and pupating.
Prevention
- Inspect fruits weekly from the time they are thumbnail-sized
- Keep the area under trees clean of fallen fruit to reduce pupation sites
Garden, by Willowbottom recommends only organic, wildlife-friendly solutions. No synthetic pesticides, no harmful chemicals - ever.