Oriental fruit moth

Grapholita molesta

Profile

The peach moth, sometimes called the peach shoot borer, is a major damaging butterfly on peaches and apricots, but also attacks other stone and pome fruit crops. The caterpillars destroy shoot tips and pulp, making the fruit inedible.

Appearance

The moths of the peach moth(Grapholita molesta) are dark gray in color and hold their wings roof-like over the body when at rest. When these are spread out, they reach a wingspan of 10 - 16 mm. Peach moths can be confused with moths of other moth species (e.g. plum moth, Grapholita funebrana). An exact determination can only be made in the laboratory using microscopic preparations or molecular biology.

The caterpillars reach a length of up to 12 mm and are reddish in color, with the head capsule brown in color.

The eggs are about 0.7 mm in size, initially transparent and later whitish to yellow in color.

Biology

The peach moth is assigned to the moth family (Tortricidae).

After hibernation in the last larval stage, which survives protected in a cocoon in bark or in crevices in the ground, the larvae (caterpillars) pupate at temperatures above 10 °C. The first generation of moths (adults) emerge from the cocoon at the end of April. From the pupae, the moths (adults) of the first generation hatch around the end of April. Soon after hatching, females begin laying eggs on leaves, near the shoot tips of young twigs, or on smooth-skinned fruit. Each female can lay up to 200 eggs. The egg stage lasts about three to five days, but somewhat longer at temperatures below 20°C. The caterpillars that hatch from these eggs feed and develop mostly in the shoots of young twigs at the beginning of the season, but later also on or in fruits. Pupation occurs in cocoons on fruit, in twig axils, or under pieces of bark. The adult caterpillars of the last generation position the cocoons in uneven places on the trunk, on twigs, dried fruit, or cracks in the ground below the host tree to overwinter.

The duration of development, as well as the number of generations, depends on temperature and therefore varies regionally. The three generations occurring in Austria have their flight peaks in May, June and September, whereby the third generation is the strongest and can therefore cause increased infestation, especially for late-maturing varieties.

Damage symptoms

Infested shoot tips wilt, dry out and often show a characteristic flag-like appearance. In some cases, the plants react with increased secondary shoot formation, which can lead to a bushy appearance in the case of heavy infestation.

Infested fruits may show external feeding marks as well as emerging and solidified liquid droplets (gum flow). In calyx and peduncle bays, or at the point of contact between two fruits, brownish fecal crumbs or pits may be found. The flesh of infested fruit is partially destroyed.

Damage symptoms caused by the peach shoot moth can be confused with those of the peach moth(Anarsia lineatella).

Host plants

The main host plants of the peach moth are apricot(Prunus armeniaca) and peach(P. persica). However, the peach moth can also be damaging to other stone and pome fruit crops, including cherry(P. avium), plum(Prunus domestica), plum(Prunus domestica subsp. domestica), and other Prunus species, as well as apple (Malus spp.) and pear(Pyrus spp.). In addition, wild and ornamental plants (such as Cotoneaster spp. & Crataegus spp.) were also found to be host plants.

Distribution

Starting in the Far East, the peach moth spread to Europe via Australia and America. Today it occurs in the temperate regions of all continents and is widespread in Europe.

Economic importance

In investigations in Austria (cf. Schildberger et al. 2005), fruit infestation by the peach moth was found on peaches, plums and apples, in addition to infestation of shoot tips. However, depending on the type of fruit, the proportion of peach moth larvae detected was usually lower than that of other comparable pests (e.g. peach moth, plum moth, codling moth).

Prevention and control

  • To detect the occurrence (monitoring, prevention) and to determine treatment dates: Traps (e.g., delta traps) are used to capture adults using attractants (pheromones or feeding baits). Note the similarity of the pheromone to that of the plum moth(Grapholita funebrana). This may cause simultaneous captures of this species as well. The moths of the peach moth and the plum moth are difficult to distinguish morphologically (genital preparation required).
  • Variety selection: Late-maturing varieties are more likely to be affected by damage because they are infested by the third and strongest generation
  • Hygiene in the orchard can reduce the extent of infestation by regular removal of infested plant material (destroy infested plant material without damage)
  • Plant protection products against this pest are listed in the register of plant protection products approved in Austria.

Specialized information

Publications

Schildberger, B., Polesny, F., Rupf, O., 2005. Observations on the occurrence of peach moth and peach curculio in Austrian orchards. Mitteilungen Klosterneuburg 55, 244-251.

Last updated: 02.12.2021

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