Endure Information Centre

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Codling moth (Cydia pomonella) biology and
control Spain
MODULE C14
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Taxonomy and distribution
Cydia pomonella (codling moth) (Lepidoptera
Tortricidae) is a key pest of apples, pears,
walnuts and quinces
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Life cycle 1

• The number of generations (1 4) depends on the
  photoperiod and the temperature
• Overwintering as last instar diapausing larva in
  tree trunks and soil.

Pupation in late winter, early spring
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Life cycle 2
No. catches tr--1 week-1
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
Month
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Life cycle 3
White egg
Black head egg
Red ring egg
Newly hatched larva
Fully grown larva
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Damage
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Monitoring

• Pheromone traps attracts males,
• while pear ester attract a small
• percenage of females
• Useful to determine the
• beginning of the first flight (biofix
• for certain phenological models)

Delta pheromone trap

• Although the results are very
• dependent on the orchard, they
• give a certain indication of the
• overwintering population

Corrugated cardboard
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Control strategy
Undesirable situation
Desirable situationl
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Control methods 1

• Chemical control
• organophosphates, pyrethroids, abamectines,
• benzoylureas, benzhydrazides, neonicotinoids
• and macrocyclic lactones
• Ovicides and larvicides (neonate larva is the
  target
• instar)
• Use of phenological methods to time insecticide
• application
• Resistance present all over the world. It is
  necessary
• to apply an anti-resistance strategy
• Use products from any one group for only one
• generation per year
• Ensure that the application technique is
  appropriate
• to obtain complete coverage of the tree canopy

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Control methods 2
Mating disruption
Isomate
Puffer
Checkmate
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Control methods 3
Mating disruption

• Optimal conditions for its use

• Plots lt 2 ha. The Area Wide Management
  programs,
• with the participation of different growers
  and
• advisors, are essential in areas where the
  plot size
• is small
• Regular, flat and homogenous plot
• Without outside sources of infestation (isolated
• walnut trees, fruit storehouses)
• Low to medium populations

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Control methods 3
Mating disruption

• Application technique

• 2 dispenser per ha (Puffer) or 150-1000
  (convetional)
• Distributed before the beginning of the first
  flight
• Located in the upper third of the canopy
• Density of dispenser duplicated in the borders
  of the plot
• Check the efficacy by visual counting of damaged
  fruits
• Combine it, if necessary, with granulosis virus
  and
• selective insecticides

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Control methods 4

• Microbial control (granulosis virus, CpGV)
• Very effective and selective, but
• inactivated by temperature and solar
• radiation
• Low persistence
• Small safe-to-harvest interval