Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus, 1758)
Phalaena Tinea pomonella Linnaeus, 1758
Explanation of Names
Specific epithet from
Pomona, the Roman the goddess of fruit trees.
Size
Forewing length 7.5-10 mm.
(1)Identification
Adults - brown with a bluish pattern consisting of parallel striae, and the ocellar patch is coppery brown with transverse bars edged by black
(1)Habitat
Occurs everywhere apples are grown, even isolated trees in urban yards.
(1)Food
Larvae feed on apples, pears, stone fruits and even walnuts.
(1)Life Cycle
Winter is passed as prepupal larvae in tough cocoons affixed to tree bark or ground litter. Adults emerge in spring to oviposit on new leaves or very young fruit. Larvae enter the fruit to lodge in seed capsules, and at maturity tunnel out again, leaving conspicuous holes that rot. Two to four generations per year.
(1)
Newly hatched larvae chew their way through apple skins. Once well inside, it seals off the entry point with silk, fruit pulp, and droppings. Then it begins to feast on the developing seeds, which induces the fruit to prematurely ripen.
(3)Remarks
Introduced to North America in colonial times and reaching the Pacific coast by 1872. One of the most notorious lepidopterans worldwide that will destroy 95% of apples in any given orchard if left unchecked. Likely native of Eurasia, introduced into Europe centuries before its discovery.
(1)
A parasitoid that attacks this moth is
Itoplectis conquisitor. This ichneumon is attracted by the scents from flowering plants in orchards, but only when nectar is available.
(4)
