Fruit tree tortrix moth

Fruit tree tortrix moth is a moderately important pest of apples and pears in the UK.

The life cycle is simple with the pest overwintering as a second or third instar larva which emerges in spring after bud burst and feeds on the trusses. Pupation occurs after blossom and first generation adults fly in June and early July.

Eggs are laid in batches on foliage and hatch after 2-3 weeks. Adults are readily recognised but larvae may be confused with other caterpillar species.

Larvae feed in leaf rolls and on the surface of fruits making the characteristic damage of small holes in the flesh.  Later in the season, near to harvest, larvae make larger surface excavations in the flesh of fruits. There is a partial second generation in August and September.

The pest should be monitored with pheromone traps weekly from petal fall of apple to the end of August. The economic threshold for treatment is >30 moths per trap per week.