How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

DESCRIPTION OF THE PEST

Oriental fruit moth overwinters as a brown mature larva in bark cracks and in leaf litter. The small, brown moths emerge in late February. Larvae are white to pink with a brown head capsule. There are five to six generations per year.

DAMAGE

Oriental fruit moth is an occasional pest of young cherry trees grown near other hosts such as almonds or peaches. First and second generation larvae mine young, tender shoots, causing them to wilt and die.

MANAGEMENT    Degree-day calculator    Degree-day table
Oriental fruit moth rarely causes significant damage to cherry trees. Sprays are usually only required if shoot strikes are occurring on young trees that are near other sources of Oriental fruit moth (e.g. infested peach, nectarine, and almonds).

Adult Oriental fruit moth populations can be monitored and treatments timed (if necessary) with pheromone traps. They should be placed in orchards by February 15 in the northern or eastern quadrant of the tree, 6 to 7 feet high. Use three traps per orchard or varietal block less than 30 acres. Use one trap per 10 acres for 30- to 80-acre orchards and one trap per 20 acres for orchards larger than 80 acres. Monitor traps once a week. Replace pheromone lures according to manufacturer's directions and trap liners when dirty, or after counting and removing an accumulated total of 150 moths.

To determine optimum time to spray, accumulate degree-days beginning with the first male moth trapped from the second flight, which usually occurs in May. Use a lower threshold of 45°F and an upper threshold of 90°F. (For assistance in calculating degree-days, see "Degree-days"). The optimum time to treat for Oriental fruit moth is 500 to 600 degree-days after first trapped male in any flight.

Common name		Amount to Use**		R.E.I.+	P.H.I.+
(trade name)		(conc.)	(dilute)	(hours)	(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. Not all registered pesticides are listed. Always read label of product being used.
A.	METHOXYFENOZIDE
	(Intrepid) 2F	16 fl oz	4 fl oz	4	7
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 18A
	COMMENTS: Most effective when applied at petalfall. Do not apply more than 16 fl oz/acre/application or 58 fl oz/acre/season. Coverage is extremely important; sprayer speed should not exceed 2 mph.
B.	CHLORANTRANILIPROLE
	(Altacor)	3–4.5 oz	0.75–1.125 oz	4	10
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 28
	COMMENTS: Do not use with an adjuvant. A newer material; impact on beneficials not yet determined. May cause mite flare ups.
C.	FLUBENDIAMIDE
	(Belt) SC	3–4 oz	0.75–1 oz	12	7
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 28
	COMMENTS: A newer material; impact on beneficials not yet determined. Highly toxic to honey bees.
D.	SPINETORAM
	(Delegate) WG	4.5–7 oz	1.125–1.75 oz	4	7
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 5
E.	SPINOSAD
	(Entrust)#	1.71–2.5 oz	0.43–0.6 oz	4	7
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 5
	COMMENTS: Most effective when applied at petalfall. This product is toxic to bees for 3 hours following treatment; apply in late evening after bees have stopped foraging. Do not apply more than 9 oz/acre/year.
F.	CARBARYL*
	(Sevin) XLR PLUS	4 qt	1 qt	12	1
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 1A
	COMMENTS: May cause increased spider mite problems. Do not apply more than 14 qt 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.
+	Restricted entry interval (R.E.I.) is the number of hours (unless otherwise noted) from treatment until the treated area can be safely entered without protective clothing. Preharvest interval (P.H.I.) is the number of days from treatment to harvest. In some cases the REI exceeds the PHI. The longer of two intervals is the minimum time that must elapse before harvest.
*	Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use.
#	Acceptable for organically grown produce.
1	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 to help prevent the development of resistance. 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 Group numbers are assigned by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee). For additional information, see their Web site at http://www.irac-online.org/.

IMPORTANT LINKS

• Degree-day calculator
• Degree-day table

PUBLICATION

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Cherry
UC ANR Publication 3440
Insects and Mites
J. A. Grant, UC Cooperative Extension, San Joaquin County
J. L. Caprile, UC Cooperative Extension, Contra Costa County
W. W. Coates, UC Cooperative Extension, San Benito County
R. A. Van Steenwyk, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley
K. M. Daane, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
Acknowledgment for contributions to Insects and Mites:
J. Colyn, Mid-Valley Ag. Services
M. Devencenzi, Devencenzi Ag. Pest Mgmt. and Research
P. McKenzie, Mid-Valley Ag. Services

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