Oriental Fruit Moth
Oriental Fruit Moths  Adult oriental fruit moths are small, dark, gray moths with dark brown mottled forewings. They emerge in early May to mid June. The females lay flat white eggs on twigs or the undersides of leaves. The eggs hatch in 10 to 14 days. The first generation larvae- white to pinkish gray, with brown heads bore into tender stems and twigs. They feed for 2 to 3 weeks, and then pupate. Second generation adults appear in mid July. Second generation larvae bore into young fruit and don’t feed on twigs. A third generation of oriental fruit moths larvae arrive in the northern United States, these bore into the stem ends of mature fruits and feed into the pits. Susceptible Plants - This insect infests all stones fruit plus apple and pear. Late ripening peach cultivars are particularly vulnerable to oriental fruit moths. During its life cycle it may also utilize orchard trash, mummified fruits and weed hosts for cocoon sites.  Symptoms- In spring young larvae bore into green twigs causing the twigs to wilt and die back. The tree may look unusually bushy from growth of new lateral shoots below the damaged parts. Second generation larvae bore into developing fruit, leaving massing of gummy castings. Later generations of oriental fruit moth enter the stem end of maturing fruit leaving no external signs of damage. Perfect looking fruit injured through stems will usually break down in storage.
Prevention and Control- When possible, plant early maturing peach and apricot cultivars that are harvested before mid summer. To destroy overwintering Oriental fruit moth larvae, cultivate the soil 4in(10cm) deep around trees. Disrupt mating with pheromone patches applied to the lower limbs of trees(one patch every four trees). "Wing Trap Kit for Oriental fruit moth" can work well.
Biological Control- Beneficial Nematodes - H. bacteriophora Pesticide Control- Spray superior oil to kill eggs and larvae of the oriental fruit moth..Repeated spray of Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstalei (B.T.K) may control the larvae.
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