Notes on Stone Fruit Insects & Mites
Oriental fruit moth

Identification

The oriental fruit moth (OFM) is one of the most serious pests of stone fruit in Ontario. A successful resistance management strategy exists for the control of this pest in peaches and nectarines.

The adult OFM is a small, dark grey moth (8-10 mm long), with wavy, light grey bands. Mature larvae have a brown head capsule, three pairs of legs and a distinct pink body.

Period of activity

OFM larvae attack new terminals and fruit. Infested shoots wilt and develop a condition called "flagging" that is easily detected in the field. First generation larvae typically attack developing shoots. Subsequent generations, second to fourth, attack fruitlets or ripe fruit. Fruit infested early in the season usually drops. Fruit injury can be conspicuous, with frass or gum exuding from the point of entry. Close to harvest injury is often concealed, because entry occurs beside the stem.

Pears can be attacked by the second generation of OFM in early July and by later generations. Pears are particularly vulnerable as fruit begins to ripen.

The OFM overwinters as a mature larva in tree bark and orchard debris. Other sources of infestation include fruit baskets and packing barns. There are three to four generations per year in Ontario.

Monitoring and thresholds

Use pheromone-baited traps to monitor emergence, flight and peak activity of male OFM. Spray at egg hatch, usually three to six days after peak flight is indicated from regional trap catches. The damage potential is too high to set a threshold based on trap catch. Examine shoots and fruit seven to ten days after a spray application to evaluate control.

Management notes

Mating disruption (MD) products are available for management of OFM. Mating disruption is a pest management technique that uses pheromones (communication chemicals) distributed throughout an area either by hand-applied dispensers or in a sprayable product. By introducing many sources of the sex pheromone into the ecosystem, the probability of the male finding the female is reduced, as is the likelihood of successful mating. As a result, mating is either delayed or prevented. Consequently, the subsequent population is reduced and fewer larvae are present to cause crop damage.

Mating disruption is pest-specific and is safe for workers and beneficial organisms. Using this technology requires specific knowledge and management practices. You must monitor throughout the season for OFM and secondary pests but you may also find that reduced pesticide use allows beneficial insects to maintain secondary pests at acceptable levels. For more information on mating disruption, see OMAFRA Factsheets, Mating Disruption for Management of Insect Pests, Order No. 03-079 and Mating Disruption for Management of Oriental Fruit Moth in Stone and Pome Fruit, Order No. 04-029.

Learn more...

• Mating Disruption for Management of Insect Pests, OMAFRA Factsheet Order No. 03-079
• Mating Disruption for Management of Oriental Fruit Moth in Stone and Pome Fruit, OMAFRA Factsheet Order No.04-029
• OMAFRA Publication 360 Tender Fruit Calendar
  • Apricot Calendar
  • Peach Calendar
    
  • Pear Calendar
    
  • Plum Calendar
    
  • Sour Cherry Calendar
    
  • Sweet Cherry Calendar
• OMAFRA Publication 360 Fruit Production Recommendations
• OMAFRA Tender Fruit Index page

  
  

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