Look and report
Codling moth is a declared pest in Western Australia.
Codling moth is not known to occur and must be reported to the department if found or suspected to be present in Western Australia.
What is codling moth?
Codling moth (Cydia pomonella) is a serious pest of apples and other pome fruit and has the potential to cause severe crop losses. The moth larvae can damage almost an entire crop if not controlled.
Western Australia remains one of the last apple growing regions in the world to remain free of codling moth. Therefore, early detection and reporting of suspected cases will help protect the WA apple and pome fruit industries.
What plants are affected?
- Apple, pears, quince, nashi, crab-apple, and walnuts are primary hosts with some other fruits affected.
- Apple varieties harvested late in the season including Pink Lady™ and Sundowner™, are particularly susceptible.
What do I look for?
- Worm-like larvae, 15-19mm long, white to light pink with a dark brown head.
- Shallow entry holes or 'stings' on fruit with one or more holes in fruit plugged with reddish-brown droppings (frass).
- Deep tunnels through the flesh and core of the fruit filled with frass.
- Brownish grey moths, 9mm long, with a dark, iridescent coppery-brown band at the tip of the upper wings.
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Larva entry and exit holes present reddish rings and frass
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Larva burrow tunnels to reach the core and feed on seeds
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Codling moth caterpillar |
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Pupa develops inside cracks in the tree bark |
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What damage can this pest cause?
- Codling moth larvae can damage almost an entire crop if not controlled.
- Damage from stings make fruit unmarketable.
- Interior breakdown of tissue by bacteria in the fruit can cause premature drop.
- Stored fruit in contact with contaminated fruit are susceptible to rot.
Legal duty to report
Codling moth is not known to occur in WA. Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus, 1758) is a declared pest under section 12 of the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007.
This means that any person who finds or suspects the presence of codling moth must report it to the department.
WA's freedom from codling moth is supported by general and specific surveillance, and specific import requirements to prevent its entry.
How does codling moth survive and spread?
- Apple variety and fruit maturity influence female moth preferences to lay eggs.
- Eggs are laid on leaves and fruit surfaces and can be spread with infested plants.
- Newly hatched larvae chew through the fruit skin and bore their way to the core to feed on seeds and flesh.
- It overwinters as full-grown larvae in silken cocoons under crevices of the bark and in soil or within debris around the base of the tree.
- Larva and moth development depend on temperature with a warmer spring resulting in higher codling moth populations.
- Codling moths can survive on neglected apple and pear trees, in cocoon-infested fruit bins or dumped apples around orchards or farms sheds.
- Larva can be spread in apples carried inside backpacks, luggage, personal belongings, and vehicles.