Adult (resting)
Length 8-11 mm, ash grey with characteristic coppery blotch at wing tip.
Egg
1.3 x 1.0 mm, flat, oval and translucent. Found on foliage or fruits, mainly the latter when fruits are more mature.
Larva
Typical tortrix form with 5 pairs of prolegs, none on the first two abdominal segments. Up to 20 mm long, pale pinkish white (younger instars whitish). Head and pro-thoracic plate brown. Usually found inside fruit.
Pupa
Inside thin cocoon. 8-10 mm long, brown. Often found in bark and other crevices.
Other pests with which codling moth may be confused
Apple sawfly
Sawfly larvae are also found in fruit but only up to mid-June. Sawfly larvae taper to tip of abdomen and have 7 or more pairs of pro-legs, though the first abdominal segment is without prolegs.
Fruitlet mining tortrix
Larval attacks by the fruitlet mining tortrix occur shortly after blossom.
Blastobasis decolorella
Caterpillars sometimes burrow into fruits from July-September, but damage is usually associated with extensive surface damage. Blastobasis caterpillars are dark purple-brown in colour.