How to get rid of plum moth and what to treat for control

If last season gardeners received a rich harvest of plums, this season they will begin to rest. This situation occurs because the plant has spent a significant part of its nutrients on the formation of juicy fruits. However, this does not mean at all that the plum will not produce several shoots on which buds will form. Along with this, during this period the plum tree is susceptible to attacks by pests, in particular the plum moth, which we discuss below.

What is the danger to the tree?

The plum moth is a pest that attacks stone fruit crops. This happens in the following way: the caterpillars destroy the pulp of the fruit, and also damage and litter it with their own excrement.

These pests are found almost everywhere. Thus, in Russia they are most often observed in the southern regions. The female plum moth produces approximately two generations of parasites.

Codling moth on plum: signs of a pest

The codling moth looks like a brown-gray butterfly. The parasite overwinters as a caterpillar. After the plum blossoms and sets fruit, butterflies become noticeable on the trees; they lay eggs directly on plums. Afterwards, caterpillars appear, which eat away the passages in the fruit and, thus, reach the stalk. As a result, the plum stops actively growing, changes color and eventually falls off.

With the help of insecticides, you can quickly get rid of pests even in the early stages of moth activity.

How to treat plums against codling moths

Next, we propose to consider in detail what methods exist to combat the codling moth on plums.

Biological drugs

You can treat a fruit tree against pests using biological preparations, which pose less of a danger to humans and plants. The main advantage of such products is that, having completed the treatment, the owner of a garden tree can be sure that the plums are absolutely clean, both in terms of pests and the product used.

The most famous biological drugs:

• Spark Bio;
• Fitoverm.

To achieve maximum results, treatment is carried out on a dry and calm windless day.In case of severe infection, the procedure is repeated several times with a break of 7 days.

Chemicals

In the most difficult situations, it is necessary to resort to chemical means to combat parasites. In any case, such drugs are the most effective, but they are not so easy to use. A significant disadvantage is that during the use of chemicals, a residual reagent product accumulates in the fruit. If the solution is used incorrectly, this accumulation can double.

The following are used as chemicals:

1. Karbofos.
2. Inta-vir.
3. Lepidocide.

The treatment is carried out twice - after flowering, at the moment of ovary formation. By the way, in different climatic conditions the processing time period varies.

The second stage-by-stage treatment is carried out in July. At this time, a large number of caterpillars of the second generation are destroyed.

Folk methods of struggle

Those who do not want to use biological or chemical preparations for one reason or another can always turn to traditional methods of combating the plum moth. By the way, such measures are also effective.

So, among the traditional methods the following are often used:

1. Garlic, hot pepper and onion peels. Infusions are prepared from these ingredients and used to treat the affected tree. The best option is spraying the plum. Parasites quickly move away from the smell.
2. Mustard powder. To prepare the product, you need to pour 100 grams of mustard with boiling water (10 liters). A day later, the liquid is diluted with a soap solution in the same amount.
3. Pine needle extract. For this option, needles are collected from spruce and pine, approximately to make a one-liter jar.The needles are placed in a container and filled with two liters of warm liquid. In this form, the ingredients are infused for a week. At the end of the period, the infusion is filtered and diluted in proportions of one to two.
4. Salt. Before the buds bloom on the plum, it is treated with a solution of table salt. In order to make the product, you need to take one kilogram of salt and dilute it in ten liters of water.
5. Bitter infusion of wormwood. To prepare the infusion, take one kilogram of the plant and ten liters of water. The product must be infused for two days. In addition, a good option would be to plant wormwood near plum trees.

Traditional methods, as well as chemical ones, should be used several times, starting in spring.

How to get rid of a pest on a drain: a step-by-step guide

Let's take a closer look at how to deal with the codling moth on plums.

Terms of treatment

In garden plots where modern crop protection work has been introduced into practice, it is advisable to observe the following deadlines for carrying out work using biological and chemical preparations:

1. The first treatment is carried out between June 1 and 12, and is carried out using means to exterminate the first generation of caterpillars.
2. To eliminate the second generation of caterpillars, 25 to 30 days must pass from the date of the first treatment. During this period, other chemicals are used.
3. The peak accumulation of caterpillars occurs in the period from mid-July, so somewhere in the twenties of June, two treatments should be carried out, resorting to biological means.

For those who want to minimize the negative effect of the above wood treatments, the ideal option would be to combine treatment against plum moth with other types of parasites.

Plum processing technology

Systematic elimination of carrion is carried out throughout the growing season. Before harvesting, the trees are shaken so that damaged fruits fall.

In the autumn and spring periods, trees are cleaned of bark that has fallen behind; if cocoons are present, they are removed; in addition, defects in the trunk are repaired, diseased and dry branches are cut off. Whitewashing is also carried out at this time.

It is mandatory to attach hunting belts using glue, which should be filled with poisonous powder or solution.

If the soil under the trees is kept in a state of steam, in the fall it is dug up around the entire perimeter. In general, instead of fallow, it is optimal to organize lawns under fruit trees on which wormwood, tansy, carrot seeds and other herbs are sown, which would attract insects that destroy the plum moth.

In addition, if the garden is young, tomatoes are grown between the rows, since the pest does not like their smell.

Prevention of insects

In order not to fight the plum moth, it is worth taking preventive measures, in particular:

1. Collect carrion in a timely manner.
2. Install catcher belts on the drain.
3. Digging the soil every autumn.
4. Correct all damage to the bark using garden varnish.

Engage in attracting insects that can destroy parasites. To do this, you can, for example, sow green manure on the site, which will attract such “defenders”.