Orchard growers and urban owners of apple, pear, crabapple, or quince host trees are required by law to keep their property free of codling moth infestations. A codling moth is a small, grayish moth which has been a principal pest of apple and pear in North America for more than 200 years. While it largely attacks apples, pears and quince fruits, it has also been problematic with cherries and walnuts.
| The Okanagan-Kootenay Sterile Insect Release Program (SIR) is an environmentally responsible, area-wide approach to control codling moth pest populations, one of the BC tree fruit industry’s most damaging and costly pests. The program operates in the fruit-growing regions of the Okanagan, Similkameen, and Shuswap Valleys, where the tree fruit industry plays an important role in the lives of residents and commercial growers. |
Codling Moth Prevention – Growers Legal Responsibility
Orchard growers and urban owners of apple, pear, crabapple, or quince host trees are required by law to keep their property free of codling moth infestations. Legislation authorizes SIR staff to ensure compliance with these laws and, as necessary, allows for orders to remove infested materials or neglected host trees.
Codling Moth Pest Management
Managing fruit trees for codling moth requires multiple applications of pesticides and/or labour-intensive pest management care. Apple and pear tree owners should carefully consider the costs and benefits of growing backyard trees.
| For More Information Visit OKSIR https://www.oksir.org/ |
The Stone Fruit Alternative
An alternative for home owners who wish to avoid the codling moth pest is to plant stone fruits, such as plum, peach or apricot trees instead of apple or pear trees. These trees in general have fewer fruit damaging pests. To protect stone fruit plants from all other seasonal pests, dormant oil sprays must be applied once in fall after leaves dropped and in early spring before bud development.
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