Codling moth and plum moth
Pest Moth larvae that burrow into apples, pears and plums, causing "maggoty" fruit.
What to look for
A small hole near the eye of the fruit with a trail of brown droppings. A pink-white caterpillar lives in the core, and fruit often drops early.
When: Moths fly from June to July, with damage showing in August.
How to prevent it
- Hang pheromone traps in the tree from late May to monitor and trap male moths.
- Thin clustered fruit, as moths lay eggs where fruits touch.
- Put grease bands on trunks in autumn to catch other pests.
How to deal with it
- Wrap corrugated cardboard around trunks in August; larvae hide in it, then remove and destroy it in winter.
- Collect and bin windfalls promptly.
- Encourage birds, which eat overwintering larvae.
Crops it affects
If you choose to use any treatment, use only products approved for UK home gardens, follow the label and avoid spraying open flowers. See all pests and diseases.