Many cultural control approaches require high labour inputs and are only likely to be appropriate where other effective control measures are not available.
Old trees
- Old trees with rough, creviced bark provide numerous cocooning sites for larvae.
- Young trees with smooth bark may be less severely attacked.
- In this situation, many codling moth larvae spin cocoons and hibernate in dead plant material in the ground cover.
Spatial isolation
- Commercial orchards should be isolated as far as possible from unsprayed orchards and garden trees which are often a source of infestation.
Hygiene
- Fallen, infested fruits may be removed promptly and destroyed before larvae can exit and move to cocooning sites.
- Developing fruits may be inspected in July and infested fruits removed and destroyed.
- Bulk bins may be disinfected after use.
- Discarded fruit from the pack-house should not be allowed to act as a source of infestation.
Trunk banding
- A band of sacking, corrugated cardboard or another suitable material may be secured round the trunk of each tree in June before larvae exit the fruitlets.
- The band will provide a cocooning site for larvae.
- The band should be temporarily removed in August and cocooning larvae destroyed.
- This process should be repeated in winter.