I just started covering my Asian pears. I am using the ziploc bags and the Surround footies this year. Looking at my Asian pears, I think I started too late. Almost all of them already have some mark that looks like codling moth or something else. I have also noticed the marks on the stem and the leaf.
One thing I have tried is scratching off the mark with my fingernail if it is not too deep. If there are too many marks, I just throw the little fruitlet away. I have covered most of the asian pear tree. I didn't cover my Euro pears last year and I didn't seem to have a problem. Apples are next. I will be interested to see if the scratches damage the fruit, what the grown up fruit with scratches look like, if it stops the codling moth, and how the ziplocs and surround footies do this year.
I used the ziplocs, plain footies and paper bags last year. The ziplocs and footies both worked really well, but not quite 100%. Before I covered the Asian pears, I had about 100% codling moth. I will not do paper bags, as I think they are difficult to work with on codling moth because you have to get the fruit when it is so small. All of mine blew off last year, too.
I would be interested in hearing what the rest of you are doing.
John S
PDX OR
My trees have just started to bloom. This year, I am going to test various methods, ziplock bags, footies, footies with clay (if I can find the clay, nobody carries it).
I am also going to spray, having finally admitted that organic apples just aren't happening.
I would like to test trap, but constant wind and dust would probably ruin the traps.
This year, I will spray the flowering crab apples. I hadn't sprayed them because they don't get fruit, but they are apples and the bugs will lay eggs on the trees and overwinter in the bark.
Also this year, I am going to remove and destroy any fruit that shows signs of having been stung and not wait for it to ripen and feed the worms.
Crikey. They've ruined your Asian pears? I have had a lot of worms in the apples, but no bug damage to my pears. The only bug problem with my stone fruit has been ants, and a few earwigs in the peaches.
I did multiple sprayings of dormant oil last winter, paying closer attention to the dormancy stage of the trees.
I've got lots of preying mantises and I plan to order some lady bugs, although I don't think either of those has any effect on coddling moth.
If you are not organic, the larva can hatch on the leaves and crawl down the stem of the fruit, so maybe a little watercolor brush to dab a bit of pyrethrin on the stem, before fastening the footie on?
It's war. I'm doing too much work and spending too much money to not get any apples for my own consumption. I don't mind sharing, but it is not sharing when they ruin 100% of the crop.
For those of you who are organic, bless you and best of luck to you. I would love to see you succeed.
The flavor and nutrition are so much better with organic. Plus, one doesn't get a huge imbalance in the whole micro eco system that requires giant inputs of toxic chemicals. Poison kills good bugs, birds, and other "positive" animals. Plus, I hate to poison myself or my family for convenience. I like the cooperative approach of sharing ideas that will help things in the long run work without it. That's one thing I love about this forum.
I am not telling anyone else what to do. We all have to figure that out on our own.
Some people use integrated pest management, or IPM, in which they don't commit to zero synthetics. They just try to use as little as possible. I think that's an interesting approach. I use organic methods, and I get a lot of great fruit.
John S
PDX OR
I tried to stir up interest in this forum about how to trap CM (codling moths) and get a good reading for the year but struck out.
Here is what I am finding in Seattle, though: Basically the CM has not been flying here but should start flying about now. The http://das.wsu.edu website would indicate they have indeed been flying in Seattle according to computer models, but this website surmises that the eggs have not hatched yet. But I am not even seeing them flying yet. Is my trapping ability in various locations in Seattle a flawed one? Probably, but I think I am in the ballpark. I am not following Portland but I would doubt you are much ahead of us here in Seattle.
I want to coordinate with other people who are either trapping or following degree days and try to improve my ability to monitor.
Another subject: Ted Swenson helped to popularize foot sox in Portland. Dave Connors, Ciscoe Morris and others helped spread that idea to Seattle. Other parts of the country use different answers. Try Don Yellman on the gardenweb.com fruit forum and discover how he intelligently uses ziploc bags in Virginia.
Or another idea to think about is to buy PackCo bags These are probably the cotton drawstring bags that were just mentioned.
http://www.packcoinc.com/cloth.....-bags.html
I bought mine too small..... I should have at least gotten 5 " by 7 " but I expect good things.
The PackCo bags will work, I would guess, for this new Drosophilia fly. I am not sure yet if the footies will be 100% effective for this new fruit fly or not......I hope there will be discussion on this forum as the season progresses.
It is my belief we need to learn more about the uses of GF 120 NF Naturalyte Fruit Fly Bait as well. I am researching where it can be purchased here in Seattle.
I've been busily putting out the ZipLoc bags on my apples. My biggest problem last year was earwigs moving into the bags in great numbers and making a mess. This year I made a small cut, just barely thru the center of the zipper, so that the zipper seals up tight on both sides of the apple's stem. The plastic has to stretch just a bit to make this happen, and it makes what seems to be a nice tight seal. I'm hopeful. I don't want to resort to tangle-footing the tree trunks to keep out the earwigs.
Wow, Alcedo, you caught my eye with that one ! It even seems to have a drawstring with it.
What are the dimensions? Just how small are the holes? What is the cost? If it is European, I fear it to be expensive, according to the pitiful way the American dollar is going these days.
Thanks for the insight on it......I have personally put up about 500 foot sox at one location in a particularly early micro-climate here in Seattle the past few days.....but I am open to other ideas.....thanks
You can buy these bags in the US. Google Microperforated or Micro perf bread bags. One place was selling 1000 for $30. Alcedo, do you cover several apples at one time? I guess if they get air, it wouldn't even hurt the leaves potentially.
Thanks
john S
PDX OR
Europak Clear Polypropylene Micro-Perforated Crusty Bread Bags 8x21
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Clear Polypropylene Micro Perforated Crusty Bread Bags 8"x21". Packed 1000 per case.
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I just caught my first two codling moths today! The traps have been out since mid-April. I changed the lures and sticky bottoms a week ago. I hadn't seen a single codling moth until today. I ordered my biological controls today. I'm getting trichogramma wasps and some more lacewings. I don't want to bag fruit - had a bad experience with that one year. Anyone else trapping?
A few weeks ago, I saw what looked like Codling moth in one trap in Seattle but then nothing after that as the cold weather set in.
I spotted what looks like two more in the Beacon Hill area of Seattle today.....I am still learning and could have this mixed up with the Grapholita moth....but I think it is the codling moth......they are flying now in some parts.
John,
If shipping isn't crazy expensive I'd be willing to go in for a share of an order and be a guinea pig to try them. I'd be game for a 2-way split of 1000. If other people want to get in, even better.
I'm also trying the kaolin coated nylons this year. I put the first ones on yesterday. I haven't seen any codling moths yet but I'm not really looking for them.
I've happily spotted ladybugs finally though.
Hey Jafarj,
I like the idea. Shipping is $20, so it comes out to $25 each for two, or less for more. Whaddya think? Anyone else? By myself, I'll probably buy a couple of loaves of bread, and just use the bags afterwards, if they're available. If it doesn't work, at least I'll get some good bread.
Anyone interested?
John S
PDX OR
It might be possible to go to a local bakery and purchase a few of the bags to test. I suspect most bakeries would simply give you a dozen or so, especially if you purchased a loaf of bread at the same time.
My local walmart uses that sort of bag for their on-site baked french bread.
I tried some light weight string bags to protect peaches from the birds. ( the kind that onions come in). With my local strong winds, the bags beat the peaches to a bruised and unusable pulp.
The value of a large and wind catching bag might very well depend upon how much wind you can reasonably expect.
So I'll guess I'll order some, Jafarj you can email me offline at
skyjs@yahoo.com
and anyone else interested can too.
Thanks
John S
PDX OR
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