Gardeners are seriously concerned: there is a threat of losing fruit trees. And the fault of this is the eastern codling moth. What is the danger of this harmless-looking butterfly? The main danger lies not only in the fact that this insect is capable of ravaging the gardens, but also in the fact that it is extremely prolific and can spread very quickly. Therefore, in order to save not the remnants of the crop or to remain without anything at all, it is necessary to prepare in advance for the fight against a malicious butterfly And for this you need to know her lifestyle, features of reproduction, measures to combat it and ways to protect it. About all this - further.
Description
The Eastern codling moth, which is called peach because of its special love for peaches, is not very large: the wingspan is about 1.1-1.5 cm. brown wings no such decoration. At the edges of both pairs of wings there is a grayish-white fringe. The difference between females and males is body size: the females are slightly longer.
Caterpillars of the pest reach a length of 0.9-1.1 cm. At the first stage of growth, their body is white and the head is black. As the caterpillars grow older, their body color changes to red, and their heads to brown.
Propagation Features
Caterpillars survive winter in cocoons, from which they are selected at the beginning of spring. When the stone species of trees bloom, butterflies begin years. A little later, when the fruits begin to ripen, the butterflies will lay their eggs. For this they choose leaves, shoots and necessarily fruits. Each individual can lay from hundreds to two hundred eggs. After 5-10 days, larvae hatch from them.
Hatching, the caterpillars penetrate into the young shoots through the upper buds. Then they gnaw out the outlet, which is used to go to the next shoot. The ability to eat inside the shoot is inherent only in the eastern codling moth - this is how it differs from other similar pests.
Damaged branches begin to fade and subsequently dry up. Those larvae of the eastern codling moth, which fell on the fruit, bite into the flesh, not hardened seeds and seeds. And on one, for example, peach, they can be up to 10 pieces.
After the feeding of the caterpillars is completed, they begin to pupate, choosing damaged shoots, fruits or any other shelters in the crown of trees for this. After a short period of time, butterflies appear from the pupae. In just one season, an adult butterfly can give 4-6 generations. And by the middle of the season, the first generation is already laying eggs, so you can meet all the stages of the harmful insect at the same time.
At the time when the codling moth begins to multiply in mass, it can completely destroy the entire crop of peaches, and quinces and pears by 70-75%.
Habitat
Although the butterfly’s homeland is the eastern part of Asia, in particular China, Korea, Japan, today it can be found on almost all continents of the planet, with the exception of Antarctica. How could an insect overcome such distances? And it didn’t move on its own, but with the help of a person: during the transportation of cuttings, seedlings and fruits around the world, practically invisible larvae and eggs of a harmful butterfly were transported with them. Now, wherever quinces, pears, peaches, apple trees grow and bear fruit, an oriental moth appears. Photos on the Web with the image of different fruits infected with insects of this species confirm the fact of its spread on all continents.
Signs of infection
Mostly, the eastern codling moth lives on peach, but other fruit trees are also infected:
- Medlar.
- Almond.
- Apple tree.
- Apricot.
- Sweet cherry.
- Plum.
- Cherry.
It is not difficult to notice the appearance of a butterfly: in those places where the pest enters the fetus, gum appears, and the moves made under the bark are clearly visible. Caterpillars damage the fruit that has set in, they, not having time to ripen, fall off the tree. And those fruits that remained on the tree are usually infected and quickly lose their presentation, which is why they are rejected and not allowed for sale.
Preventative measures
Conventional prevention can have a big effect. Of course, it will be effective in the early stages of infection, when the eastern codling moth has just begun to occupy the garden. What should be done in order to prevent profuse infection? The following measures have an excellent effect:
- Removal of dead bark from large branches and boles. If this is not done, then under the bark, in the cracks, a huge number of tracks will winter, and then next year it will be very difficult to deal with the pest.
- Destruction of plant debris, including carrion. Moreover, it is necessary to collect the fallen fruits every evening and not to leave it at night: at night, the caterpillars are selected from the carrion to move to the tree. Therefore, the crumbled fruits must either be destroyed or buried very deeply, at least 0.5 m.
- Disinfection of containers.
- Digging the soil in the fall, spring, and summer, when the eastern codling moth is in pupal stage. Moreover, digging is necessary not only around tree trunks, but also aisles. Such a measure will significantly reduce the number of harmful insects in the area.
- Regular cutting and burning of damaged shoots.
In addition, it is necessary to arrange bait in crowns to attract butterflies. And also impose fishing belts saturated with chlorophos from corrugated paper, burlap or other materials on the supports and tree trunks to catch caterpillars that, having chosen from crumbled fruits, are looking for a place to pupate or feed.
Biological methods
There are many natural remedies that the eastern codling moth does not like. Control measures with their help require time and labor, but the destruction of such a serious enemy of any garden is worth it.
The following methods have proven themselves best:
- Making pheromone traps. Attracted by their smell, male moths fly in and stick to the trap.
- Use of trichogrammed egg-eaters during mass egg-laying. So are the enemies of the codling moths that parasitize on its eggs.
- Sprinkling trees 2 weeks after flowering. For this, it is necessary to apply infusions and decoctions of wormwood. Processing must be repeated 2-4 times. The interval between treatments is 5 days.
- 3 weeks after the flowering period ends, spray the trees with a special preparation. Those are Sumyalf, Rolovikurt, Intavir, Deltatsid and others. After a couple of weeks, you need to re-process, and after another month - a third.
Chemical treatment
Various chemicals are used when the insect has multiplied so abundantly that other methods of control have proven powerless. What is the eastern codling moth afraid of? What is dangerous for a person to treat a garden with chemicals? So that people or animals do not suffer, it is imperative to adhere to the instructions and recommendations of specialists. And the very first thing you need to know and observe: in no case do you cultivate the garden during the flowering period or during the harvest.
It is best to use the following drugs to kill the pest (norms are based on 10 liters of water):
- "Trichloro-metaphos-3" - 60 g of a 10 percent drug.
- Rovikurt - 10 g.
- "Chlorophos" - 20 g;
- "Karbofos" - 60 g;
- “Chlorophos benzophosphate” - 60 g.
For each fruitful adult tree, it is necessary to spend 10 liters of solution, two liters are enough for a young plant. At the time of processing, all other plants need to be covered with a film.
conclusions
Eastern codling moth - quarantine insect. All seedlings, cuttings and fruits that are imported into the territory of Russia, exported from it or moved around the country, must be checked by the state quarantine inspection. If at least the slightest signs of infection by an insect of any type of product are detected, it will be subject to disinfection, and in too severe cases, to destruction.
Thanks to this, it is possible to localize the foci of infection and partially prevent the spread of the pest. This serves as evidence that, despite the insidious table of a dangerous enemy, it is possible to fight with him, and moreover, very successfully. The main thing is not to delay or give up, and then you can find a way out of the most difficult situation and protect your garden and crop.