The light brown moth has many natural enemies. Parasitic wasps especially reduce populations to comparatively low levels in unsprayed orchards but parasites are less abundant in orchards sprayed with broad-spectrum insecticides. Light brown apple moth larvae and pupae are killed by various parasitoids, predators, and diseases. Spiders and earwigs (Forficula auricularia) are the most important predators. Although much is known about the parasitoids of light brown apple moth in Australia and New Zealand, less is know about the effect on light brown apple moth population in the UK.
Insectivorous birds
- As with other tortricids, birds probably pay a contributing role in controlling numbers of light brown apple moth, but birds do not forage specifically for the pest unless population densities are very high and for this reason are of limited value only.
Egg parasites
- Parasitic wasps (Trichogramma sp.) attack the eggs but parasitism rates are generally low.
Larval and pupal parasites
- Several parasitic wasps and flies parasitise light brown apple moth larvae or pupae, but these are unlikely to have a significant controlling effect.
Predatory insects
- Earwigs and predatory mirid and anthocorid bugs feed on eggs and young larvae.
Virus diseases
- Infection by a nuclear polyhedrosis virus has been known to decimate localised light brown apple moth populations.