Oriental Fruit Moth

Grapholita molesta
Description

The adult is a small, dark-colored moth with squared off wings. The larvae are light- colored with dark heads, about 3/4" to 1" long when mature.

Damage

This insect is a serious pest of a variety of crops. The larvae will bore into the ends of twigs and small branches, and cause serious and unsightly damage to fruit.

Stage Timing Where to Look
Adults

First flight (late April)

Second and third flights
Half-inch green (apple); Half-inch green to bloom (peach); until mid-June

Early July through harvest

 Pheromone traps

Pheromone traps
Eggs (late April)

Tight cluster through harvest (apple); pink through harvest (peach)

 Upper leaf surface and fruit
Larvae

(Overwintering)

 Bloom through harvest

August to mid-March
In tender shoots and fruit

In cocoons under bark scales and in leaf litter under tree
Pupae Late July through early November In soil within 50 mm (2 in) of surface.