It's here way earlier than normal. I looked into my Asian Pear tree, which is usually the first one I work on. Almost all the fruit are completely covered with bug bites. I was impressed with the pollination and fruit set, but other insects have been active too. I all but gave up on the Asian pears, and just put a couple of ziplocs on the fruit. I went straight for the apples, because they'll get it early this year too then. It looked to be not too late on the apples. WE'll see how it goes. How are the rest of you doing?
John S
PDX OR
Traps are still empty here in Mulino, OR as of today (05/11).
I'm new to dealing with codling moth, and didn't realize treatment started so early. I have the footies and was planning to put them over the small apple fruit. Too late?
Given John's report, I decided I had better check on my apple trees (2) and multi-grafted Asian pear tree. It looks like I have good fruit set this year on the Asian pears - a lot of thinning will be needed! From what I could see, I have a lot of good fruit so I had better get started on putting on the baggies. I have a semi-dwarf Rubinette apple tree which had a lot of blooms but it doesn't look like it is overloaded with fruit. The apples on the Goldrush tree are still a bit small so I think it is a bit early to start thinning/bagging them.
I usually bag fruit about this time of year...weather permitting. I will add that I am in SE PDX.
redberry
I gave up on the Asian pear tree. If you live in a populated area (suburb/city) and have been growing that fruit tree for more than 5 years, you almost surely have codling moth in the area. I decided to focus on the apple trees. I have seen several with the dreaded moth holes. Some recent ones I can scrape out with my luxurious finger nails, but if they're too deep I have to thin those fruit. I only saved about 5-10 asian pears, but I had such extreme fruit set that I was going to lose my apples to our evil invasive insects. I'm mostly done and none too soon. Lots of bug damage so far.
John S
PDX OR
So, John, let me get this--at first, the coddling moth attack is only surface, and you can scratch it out and the fruit kind of heals itself? Please describe more fully....
Thanks!
--Debbie
Debbie,
I believe the moth lays a single egg not much below the surface. I think John figures if it hasn't been in there very long he can scoop it out and the apple will heal over with just a bit of a blemish.
Yes, that's exactly it, Jafar. If I catch it quickly, I scratch it out so I can't see the hole anymore. Many, many times, it has come out without a worm in it in August. I can't remember if it ever had a worm in it, so at least almost always works. If I dig and I can't get it out, which has happened a few times in May, I thin that fruit instead of putting a bag on it.
When I do scratch it out, it ends up with an ugly scar but it's great fruit to eat-no moth.
John S
PDX OR