Codling moth

Codling moth
Male
Female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Tortricidae
Genus: Cydia
Species:
C. pomonella
Binomial name
Cydia pomonella
Synonyms
  • Phalaena (Tortrix) pomonella Linnaeus, 1758
  • Phalaena Tortrix aeneana Villers, 1789
  • Carpocapsa splendana ab. glaphyrana Rebel, 1
  • Pyralis pomana Fabricius, 1775
  • Tortrix pomonana [Denis & Schiffermuller], 1775
  • Cydia pomonella simpsonii Busck, 1903

The codling moth (Cydia pomonella) is a member of the Lepidopteran family Tortricidae. They are major pests to agricultural crops, mainly fruits such as apples and pears, and a codling moth larva is often called an "apple worm". Because the larvae are not able to feed on leaves, they are highly dependent on fruits as a food source and thus have a significant impact on crops. The caterpillars bore into fruit and stop it from growing, which leads to premature ripening. Various means of control, including chemical, biological, and preventive, have been implemented.[1] This moth has a widespread distribution, being found on six continents. Adaptive behavior such as diapause and multiple generations per breeding season have allowed this moth to persist even during years of bad climatic conditions.[1]

Cydia pomonella illustration by Des Helmore
  1. ^ a b Tadic, M. (1957). The Biology of the Codling Moth as the Basis for Its Control. Univerzitet U Beogradu.