Cydia pomonella

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Codling Moth

is a and major global pest of apple and pear orchards. The , commonly known as the ' in the apple,' bores into fruit and prevents normal development, causing premature ripening and loss. are attracted to traps with limited plume reach, requiring multiple traps for reliable . The has been detected via environmental in yard waste shipments, highlighting its potential for human-mediated .

Habitat

Apple and pear orchards; ornamental crabapple trees in residential settings. develop within fruit. have been observed at in urban and suburban environments.

Distribution

to Eurasia; now . Present across Europe, North Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, East Asia, Australasia (Australia, New Zealand), North America (Canada, USA), Central America (Mexico), and South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay).

Diet

feed internally on developing fruits of apple, pear, peach, apricot, almond, plum, quince, and walnut. Larvae cannot feed on leaves and are dependent on fruit as a food source.

Host Associations

Malus - larval apple
Pyrus - larval pear
Prunus - larval peach, apricot, almond, plum
Cydonia - larval quince
Juglans - larval walnut

Life Cycle

. bore into fruit to feed and develop. occurs in soil or protected locations. emerge and mate; females on or near fruit.

Behavior

Males orient to female (codlemone) with limited range; random movement plays significant role in trap capture. Courtship involves female fanning and movement toward males. are and attracted to lights.

Ecological Role

Major agricultural pest causing significant damage and economic loss in fruit orchards. Preyed upon by including Acholla .

Human Relevance

Primary pest of apple and pear production globally; management relies on , , and . Subject to border and protocols. Environmental methods have been developed to detect presence in green yard waste shipments. Gene editing research (CRISPR/Cas9) targets odorant receptor genes for potential future control methods.

Similar Taxa

Choristoneura fumiferanaBoth are , but feeds on conifers rather than fruit and has highly variable coloration
Choristoneura conflictanaBoth in , but large aspen tortrix feeds on aspen, poplar, willow, and alder rather than fruit trees

More Details

Pheromone trap monitoring

Standard traps emit plumes reaching only about 5 meters. -trapping with five traps spaced 4 meters apart and averaged produces more reliable abundance estimates than single traps, reducing variability from 0-32 (single trap range) to 1-12 moths (line average range).

Gene function research

The CpomOR1 odorant receptor gene, expressed in male and female tip, is essential for production and viability—females with knocked-out CpomOR1 produce few eggs and none viable, suggesting role in preparation beyond .