Control
Several insecticides are approved for control of tortricid moths and/or other caterpillars on apple in the UK and these are also applicable to light brown apple moth. Light brown apple moth is, fortuitously, controlled by several of the sprays targeted against codling moth and fruit tree tortrix moth.
As light brown apple moth is a comparatively new pest to Britain we have only limited experience in controlling it with insecticides and comprehensive efficacy trials have not been done on apple.
- However, experience has shown that indoxacarb (Steward or Explicit) is effective.
- Chlorantraniliprole (Coragen) is also thought to offer incidental control when applied against codling moth.
- Pyriproxyfen (Harpun) may also offer incidental control of light brown apple moth when applied for codling moth control. It inhibits egg hatch, metamorphosis of nymphs to adults and reduces the fecundity of adult females. However, as a new product to the UK in 2020, further experience is required to inform growers and agronomists of its efficacy at controlling light brown apple moth.
- On cherry, Bacillus thuringiensis (Dipel DF) has given disappointing results.
- Spray programmes applied for control of codling and tortrix moths on apple are likely to give good incidental control of light brown apple moth. However, special control measures may be required if damaging populations of the pest develop.
- Sprays should be timed according to sex pheromone trap catches. Larvicides should be applied 7-10 days after a threshold catch of 30 moths per trap is reached, with sprays repeated at fortnightly intervals to give protection through the egg hatch period.
- For details on how to use the various available insecticides, see fruit tree tortrix moth.
Insecticides approved for control of codling, tortrix moths (light brown apple moth) or caterpillars on apple
| Choice of insecticides – efficacy factors | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Trade name (examples) | Class1 | Selectivity | Label rec’s2 | Safety to Typhs | Suggested interval between sprays (days) |
| Bacillus thuringiensis. var kurstaki | Dipel DF | bacterial insecticide | selective to caterpillars | c | safe | 7 |
| chlorantraniliprole | Coragen | anthranilic amide | selective | c | safe | 14 |
| deltamethrin | Decis Forte etc | pyrethroid | broad spectrum | cm, t | harmful | none stipulated |
| indoxacarb | Steward, Explicit | oxadiazine | selective | c, cm, ftt, sft, wm | u | Varies with product |
| pyriproxyfen | Harpun | metamorphosis inhibitor | selective | cm | safe | none stipulated |
| spinosad | Tracer | neural blocker | selective | c, cm, ftt,sft | safe | u |
| Choice of insecticides – Safety factor Read and follow the label before applying any sprays |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazards2 | Harvest interval (days) | Max. no. sprays | Buffer zone width (m) | ||||
| Anticholin-Esterase? | Humans | Fish & aquatic life | Bees | ||||
| Bacillus thuringiensis | no | u | u | u | Varies with product | Varies with product | 5 |
| chlorantraniliprole | no | h | ed | h | 14 | 2 | 10 |
| deltamethrin | no | h, i | ed | d | 7 | u | 50 |
| indoxacarb | no | h | ed | u | 7 | 3 | 15 |
| pyriproxyfen | no | d | t | u | fruit diameter up to 40mm | 2 | 20 |
| spinosad | no | u | ed | h | 7 | 4 | 40 |
| Keys: 1CSI=chitin synthesis inhibitor, JHA=juvenile hormone analogue, 2c=caterpillars, ftt=fruit tree tortrix, sft=summer fruit tortrix, t=tortrix, wm=winter moth 3d=dangerous, ed=extremely dangerous, h=harmful, i=irritant, t=toxic, u=no hazard specified |
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