Protecting against codling moth attack should be a priority in UK orchards after a sharp increase in the pest population, according to East Malling Research (EMR).
EMR research leader Jerry Cross said: “Record July temperatures have prompted strong second generation flights in August. Pheromone traps in Kent orchards are showing signs of an upsurge, making widespread attacks likely.”
Second generation flights of codling moth tend to be more damaging than the first, according to Cross, as mature fruit is softer which makes it vulnerable to attack.
He advises checking pheromone traps for codling moth catches each week. “If catches are above five moths per trap per week, then insecticide protection should be maintained throughout August, and for late picked varieties into early September,” Cross added.
The increased codling moth threat has seen crop protection specialist Certis increasing stocks of Dimilin.
Alan Horgan, technical officer at Certis, said: “It is cost-effective and highly selective so will have minimum impact on beneficials. It provides a completely different mode of action to conventional neurotoxic insecticides. Treatment as soon as the threshold level is reached is particularly important.”
Other treatments include Runner, that should be applied a few days before the onset of egg hatch, and Tracer, that should coincide with egg hatch.
