Controlling Codling Moth in Apple

Codling moth is an obvious and immense issue for fresh market apple growers. We are working with a solution using exclusion netting, applied to trees after petal fall and left on until right before harvest. This reduces codling moth damage significantly. We are continuously monitoring the effectiveness at this point. Next steps are to continue to assess CM damage between netted and un-netted trees and monitor the potential secondary effects, such as beneficial insect ecology, temperature, humidity, yield, etc. We will continue to work with growers and help to implement this method across more orchards and stay steps ahead of any perceived drawbacks.

Collaborating Researchers: Melissa Schreiner, CSU Extension Entomologist

Outcomes: A deeper understanding of horticultural and environmental effects of apple netting.