Plum fruit moth survey: 2005
Plum fruit moth attacks fruit of plum, cherry, apple, peach,
apricot, pear, and walnut (USDA/APHIS/PPQ Pest Detection Manual).
The damage caused by first generation caterpillars often passes
unnoticed, the dropping of the fruit being mistaken for
physiological drop (unfertilized fruit for example). The second
generation caterpillars cause serious losses in semi-late and late
fruit varieties. The caterpillar penetrates very rapidly into the
fruit near the base of the peduncle. At the end of its growth, it
abandons the fruit and pupates (first generation) or spins a
hibernation cocoon under a shelter on the surface of the ground or
under the bark (second generation). The attacked fruit takes on a
dark coloration, ceases to develop and exudes a few characteristic
gummy droplets through the caterpillar's entry hole opening, then
drops prematurely. Early varieties are attacked only slightly.
Wing traps baited with plum fruit moth pheromone blend (95:5 mixture
of (Z):(E)-8-Dodecen-l-ol acetate as recommended by Otis Methods
Development Center) were set in mid-May in peach and apple orchards
across Kentucky. Traps were checked once a week and the lures
replaced once a month from mid-May to August. This corresponds to
the second generation flight period.
2005
- Number of Traps Set:
All photos on this page are from http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/