Codling Moth
Also known as: Cydia pomonella — the "worm" in the apple
Identification
Adult: small gray-brown moth (15mm wingspan). Larva: pinkish-white caterpillar inside fruit. Frass (sawdust-like droppings) at fruit entry hole.
Damage
Boring — larvae bore into apple and pear fruit, feeding on flesh and seeds. The classic "wormy apple."
Best Organic Solutions (Ranked)
Solutions ranked by reliability tier — start with Tier A options.
Timing critical — spray at petal fall and first egg hatch
CpGV — species-specific viral control
Barrier prevents egg-laying on fruit
Baculovirus for caterpillar stage
Biological Controls
Trichogramma platneri (egg parasitoid), Mastrus ridens (larval parasitoid)
Prevention
Pheromone traps for monitoring flight timing. Bagging individual fruit (Japanese fruit bags). Sanitation — pick up all fallen fruit daily.
Common Mistake
Spraying at wrong timing — codling moth sprays must be timed to egg hatch (degree-day models), not adult flight. Pheromone traps monitor adults, but spray timing targets eggs/larvae.