Methods of fighting the codling moth on an apple tree, what to treat to get rid of it

There are many methods to combat the codling moth on an apple tree. You can buy biological and chemical preparations in finished form. Compositions made according to folk recipes are also considered effective. The main thing is to follow the rules and deadlines for processing trees. Each solution is made in strict compliance with the recommended proportions. Preventive measures will prevent the pest from appearing again.

Structure and life cycle of the pest

The codling moth is an insect pest that significantly reduces the amount of harvest and leads to damage to the tree itself. The codling moth eats young twigs and leaves.

The butterfly that lays eggs is small in size (with a span of no more than 2 cm). The front pair of wings are brown-gray with dark wavy lines. The back pair of wings is light with velvety edges.

Butterflies begin active activity from the beginning of the flowering period of apple trees. The year lasts up to two months. The butterfly is active at night, so it is difficult to notice during the day.

The insect lays up to 80-100 milky yellow eggs on the inside of the leaves. After a couple of weeks, light yellow or pink caterpillars emerge from the eggs. The length of an adult caterpillar is 15-19 mm.

First, the caterpillars gnaw off the leaves. After a week of their life, they begin to eat apple fruits. One caterpillar can damage up to three fruits. Inside the apples, the caterpillars continue their development, where they pupate.

Characteristic signs and why the appearance of a parasite on an apple tree is harmful

You can determine that an apple tree has been attacked by a codling moth by the condition of the leaves and fruits. Corroded passages appear on the leaves, they turn yellow and dry out. The caterpillars themselves are also found on the apple tree, eating the leaves.

Damaged fruits become wormy. In the place where the caterpillar made passages, rotting begins. Apples fall off long before ripening, lose their beneficial properties and cannot be stored for long periods of time.

The damage caused by the codling moth is great:

• the number of crops decreases;
• apples do not ripen and fall off;
• At the same time, other fruit trees that grow near apple trees are also affected.

After the apple falls from the tree, the caterpillar moves up the trunk to the new harvest.

Means to combat codling moth

The pest can be controlled using chemical, mechanical and folk methods. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages:

• During the active summer of butterflies and the emergence of caterpillars from eggs, trees are treated with chemicals.
• Biological preparations that are used in summer are considered non-toxic.
• The mechanical control measure does not involve the use of any drugs. You just need to monitor the trunk and bark of the trees, as well as the soil around the apple tree.
• Folk remedies made entirely from natural ingredients can be combined with other drugs or used independently.

If you follow all the rules, you can get rid of the insect in a short time. Spraying is carried out several times per season.

Chemical solutions

The most effective way to combat codling moths is the use of insecticides. They treat apple trees in the summer months with an interval of two weeks. The frequency of the procedure will depend on the variety. It is enough to process early varieties three times per season, mid-season varieties - up to 5 times, and late varieties of apple trees - process up to 7 times.

Common products include: Ditox, Karbofos, Fozalon, Aktara, Confidor. Pyrethroid drugs are also used: “Calypso”, “Karate”, “Arrivo”, “Alatar”, “Kinmiks”, “Fatrin”. Apple trees are also treated with cyhalothorins: “Gladiator”, “Vantex”, “Borey”.

Start with the prepared solution processing apple trees in early June and continue until mid-July. The use of chemicals in the future is unacceptable.

Biological drugs

Insecticides contribute to the accumulation of chemical elements in fruits, so it is recommended to alternate them with other, safer products. Biological products (“Fitoverm”, “Lepidocid”, “Bitoxibacillin”) help fight the pest.

Compositions prepared according to folk recipes are considered proven and effective:

• As soon as the flowering period ends, treat with a wormwood-based solution every 12 days up to four times. You can plant wormwood near the apple tree.
• You can spray the crown of apple trees after flowering with a solution based on pine needles. The needles are infused in water for a week, then filtered. Before use, the finished concentrate is diluted again with water.
• An infusion of chamomile, wormwood, burdock or garlic helps protect the tree from attack by the codling moth.

You can lure the pest using apple cider vinegar. Dissolve 150 ml of vinegar in a liter of water. The bait is placed on a tree. Change the solution as it becomes filled with insects.

Mechanical restoration

Mechanical methods of controlling codling moth include:

• deep digging of the soil around the tree trunk in spring and autumn;
• removing dead bark in the spring (it is better to burn it);
• Every evening you should collect apples that have fallen (they are buried or taken far from the garden).

The listed measures are safe for the apple tree and the person himself and will not allow the pest to spread en masse.

When to start and how to handle it correctly

To ensure that all efforts are not in vain, you need to correctly calculate the processing period. During the entire growing season, the apple tree needs several treatments with different options. This will protect the tree not only from the codling moth, but also from other pests.

Spraying begins in due time.To work, you will need a working solution, a spraying device, as well as personal protective equipment (gloves, mask, clothing).

When spraying, you should try not to leave a single branch unattended. The first spraying begins in the middle of flowering, when the buds have already set. The next spraying is carried out 12 days after the flower petals fall.

in spring

In order for apple trees to grow longer and bear fruit well, they need to be provided with proper care. Spring treatment of fruit trees is a mandatory procedure:

• Around each apple tree, old leaves and debris are removed and the ground is dug up.
• Clean the trunk of old bark, under which pests can overwinter.
• Be sure to cut off old, diseased, dry branches.
• In order to rejuvenate the tree, it is recommended to trim each branch to the length of the growth.
• After pruning the trees, preventive treatment of trees against pests and diseases begins. Initially, the crown is treated when the buds have not yet blossomed. Bordeaux mixture and copper sulfate are used as a basis for solutions.

The best time to treat trees against codling moths is 2.5 weeks after flowering.

In summer

Chemicals are used only at the beginning of summer so that pesticides do not have time to accumulate in the fruits. You can treat trees with folk remedies at any time:

• In mid-June, the first summer treatment against codling moths is carried out. You can spray with insecticides such as Actellik and Dimethoate.
• The second treatment is carried out in July, three weeks after the previous procedure. It is necessary to choose drugs that will help protect the tree from the second generation of codling moth.

From the end of July, tree processing is stopped.At this time, you should follow the basic rules of prevention.

Preventing the appearance of a bug

To prevent the pest from appearing on a tree, a number of preventive actions should be taken:

• The separated bark, which can become a wintering site for insects, should be removed from the tree trunk in a timely manner;
• the soil around each tree is dug up and loosened;
• reliable protection against pests is created by planting flowers around the tree that attract insects that are dangerous to the codling moth;
• damaged and diseased branches with fruits are removed immediately after detection;
• Cracks in wood are sealed with special means.

In spring, the soil and tree trunk are sprinkled with wood ash. A solution for spraying is also prepared. 100 g of ash is dissolved in a bucket of water, infused and liquid soap is added. The treated apple tree is not damaged by pests for a long time.