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How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

| More pests | More crops | About guidelines |

Adult peach twig borer.

Cherry

Peach Twig Borer

Scientific Name: Anarsia lineatella

(Reviewed 4/06, updated 4/06)

In this Guideline:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PEST

The peach twig borer is widely distributed throughout California and is found on several hosts, but is rarely a problem in mature cherry orchards. The adult moth is about 0.3 to 0.5 inch long, with steel gray mottled forewings. Small larvae are almost white with black heads. Mature larvae are about 0.5 inch long and have black heads and brownish bodies with white portions between each body segment, giving the appearance of stripes. Peach twig borer overwinters as larvae in tiny cells, called hibernaculum, that are located in the crotches of 1- to 3-year-old wood and at pruning wounds. There may be three to four generations each year, but later generations occur after cherry harvest.

DAMAGE

The peach twig borer is a minor pest of cherry, but can damage both shoots and fruit. Larvae may burrow down tender shoots and kill the tips, which may cause problems in training young trees. They also feed on fruit, primarily at the stem end. Either feeding damage or the presence of larvae will cause a fruit to be offgrade.

MANAGEMENT

Dormant or delayed dormant insecticide sprays will reduce populations of overwintering larvae. When control has not been achieved by delayed dormant treatment (the preferred timing), an insecticide should be applied at petal fall or shortly thereafter. Monitor before treating to assure that you have the pest and to properly time application.

Organically Acceptable Methods
The use of Bacillus thuringiensis at bloom, preceded by a dormant spray oil treatment for scale and mite eggs, is acceptable for use on an organically certified crop.

Common name Amount to Use** P.H.I.+
(trade name) (conc.) (dilute) (days)
The following materials are listed in order of usefulness in an IPM program, taking into account efficacy and impact on natural enemies and honey bees. When choosing a pesticide, also consider information relating to environmental impact.
 
BLOOM
A. BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS ssp. KURSTAKI#
  (various products) Label rates  
  MODE OF ACTION: A microbial (Group 11.B2)1 insecticide.
  COMMENTS: Make 2 applications during bloom: the first at early bloom and the second 7–10 days later, but no later than petal fall. Compatible with fungicide sprays. Good coverage is essential.
 
B. SPINOSAD
  (Entrust)# 1.25–2.5 oz 0.31–0.6 oz 7
  (Success) 4 oz 1 oz 7
  MODE OF ACTION: A microbial (Group 5)1 insecticide.
 
SPRING
A. DIAZINON* 50WP 3 lb 1 lb 21
  MODE OF ACTION: An organophosphate (Group 1B)1 insecticide.
  COMMENTS: Avoid drift and tailwater runoff into surface waters. Where cherries are grown adjacent to waterways, do not use this material.
 
B. CARBARYL*
  (Sevin) XLR Plus 4 qt 1 qt 1
  MODE OF ACTION: A carbamate (Group 1A)1 insecticide.
  COMMENTS: May cause increased spider mite problems. Do not apply more than 14 qt Sevin XLR Plus/acre/season. The XLR PLUS formulation is less hazardous to honey bees than other formulations if applied from late evening to early morning when bees are not foraging.
 
 
**  For concentrate applications, use the amount given in 80–100 gal water/acre, or lower if the label allows; for dilute applications, amount is per 100 gal water to be applied in 300–400 gal water/acre, according to label.
+ Preharvest interval. Do not apply within this many days of harvest.
* Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use.
# Acceptable for organically grown produce.
1 Modes of action are important in preventing the development of resistance to pesticides. Rotate chemicals with a different mode-of-action group number, and do not use products with the same mode-of-action group number more than twice per season. For example, the organophosphates have a group number of 1B; chemicals with a 1B group number should be alternated with chemicals that have a group number other than 1B. Mode of action is assigned by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee). For additional information, see their Web site at http://www.irac-online.org/.

[Precautions]

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Cherry
UC ANR Publication 3440
Insects and Mites
R. A. Van Steenwyk, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley
K. M. Daane, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
J. A. Grant, UC Cooperative Extension, San Joaquin County

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Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See How to manage pests, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /PMG/r105300111.html revised: April 18, 2006. Contact webmaster.