How To Control Codling Moth Organically

Codling moth larvae are a major garden and agricultural pest. The codling larvae attacks apple orchards and also crab apples, pears, walnut and other fruit trees. If these little pests are bothering your apple, nut and other fruit trees, it's time to take charge!

Ingredients

• 1 cup vinegar
• 1/3 cup dark molasses
• 1/8 tsp ammonia
• 4 2/3 cup water

Step 1 Try two methods

The first method is to use cardboard to attract the larvae. The second method is to create a trap that attracts the larvae away from the apples and to a sticky meal somewhere else that traps them.

Method 1: Corrugated Cardboard Catcher

1. Obtain corrugated cardboard.
2. Wrap several layers of the cardboard around the trunk of the tree in early spring. The larvae are attracted to the "homes" available in the corrugations of the cardboard.
3. Remove the cardboard in the summer and burn.

Method 2: Molasses Trap

1. Cut off the base of a plastic milk container.
2. Mix together the ingredients listed above.
3. Pour the mixture into the base of the milk container. Fill it to a depth of 7.5cm / 3".
4. Hang in the tree. This trap will be most effective if you hang 2 to 3 traps per tree.
5. Empty periodically and refill with new solution.

Tips

• This is likely to be effective only in your backyard. If you have an apple orchard infestation, talk to the professionals. Organic control is very hard but it is possible. Latest technology uses pheromone traps (mating disruption lures) to disrupt the moth's breeding cycle. There is also the possibility of using parasitic wasps but you should seek professional advice first.
• Note that if you intend making more than one molasses trap, you will need to increase the ingredients or make several batches.

Warnings

• The corrugated cardboard and molasses trap methods will only work if you are diligent in removing the items and replacing them with fresh versions regularly. The aim is to reduce the population considerably in one season, so that there will be less infestations in subsequent years. Be diligent in following years also, or likely you will suffer a reinfestation.

Things You'll Need

• Corrugated cardboard
• Plastic milk container with handle (large size) (as many as you need traps)
• Scissors or knife
• String for hanging and tying on cardboard