Jonno wrote:
Depends on where you live.
Try here its in Queensland:
http://www.bioresources.com.au/Other...secticides.htm
A good place to start I reckon.
Also: http://www.bioresources.com.au/Carve...raeGeneral.htm
and this webpage: http://www.bioresources.com.au/default.htm
PS I googled the info. And edited it slightly. Saves so much time.



whiteMemphis wrote:
Many thanks for this comprehensive reply, gives a good insight into
the scope of the problem, you wouldn't happen to know where I could
get the pheromone trap material by any chance, thanks again.

"Jonno" wrote in message
...

whiteMemphis wrote:
Hi all, anyone here grow apples, and if so, what do you do
about codling moth? thanks any feedback
Codling moth is not a great candidate for biological pest control,
as the larvae are well protected within the fruit for the majority
of development. However, codling moth eggs are susceptible to
biological control by Trichogramma wasps. The wasps deposit their
eggs into codling moth eggs, and the developing wasp larvae consume
the moth embryo inside. Another method for control and sampling,
'trunk banding', consists of wrapping a corrugated cardboard strip
around the tree trunk. Larvae making their way back to the tree to
pupate after the infested fruits are aborted will use bands as
pupation sites. Bands may then be removed and burned.

Codling moth infestations are often managed with pesticides.
Successful synthesis of codlemone, the codling moth female sex
pheromone blend, has led to behaviorally based monitoring and
management. Pheromone traps are used to capture male moths for
monitoring and setting biofix, which is the time of first flight for
codling moth. Biofix is used with weather data to run degree day
models (see below) which predict with excellent accuracy the
phenology of the population in the field, thereby allowing growers
to time their management actions to target codling moth when they
are most susceptible. A kairomone which is a feeding attractant can
be used to capture males and females (DA lure). Mating disruption
can be used to effectively manage codling moth populations in many
cases. Mating disruption involves the use of a pheromone impregnated
release device, typically made of plastic or rubber. Dispensers are
distributed throughout the orchard and emit female pheromone at a
high, relatively constant rate. The mechanism by which mating
disruption affects males is poorly understood, it may increase the
time required for males to find females, thus reducing fecundity, or
it may simply mask the position of females to searching males,
reducing mating substantially.

Recent trials of non-toxic kaolin clay-based sprays indicate that an
effective alternative means of codling moth suppression may be on
the horizon. Codling moth and other pests find leaves and fruit
covered in kaolin clay unfit for laying eggs. Tiny particles of the
clay tend to attach to their bodies, disturbing and repelling them.
In addition, trees covered in kaolin clay can make them less
recognizable as habitat to codling moths. Full coverage of trees is
necessary in order to achieve effective suppression. If used only at
the beginning of the fruit growing season, kaolin clay often comes
off by itself due to wind and rain attrition, leaving fruit clean at
harvest time.

The prime difficulty in dealing with codling moth infestations seems
to lie with appropriate timing. The method of calculating
'degree-days' is often used by orchardists to approximate when a
particular pest will reach a particular stage of development during
a given season. Since stages of insect development are triggered by
the accumulation of a certain amount of heat over time, this
calculation involves careful tracking of changes in daily
temperature. In the case of codling moth, pupating larvae emerging
from bark and other overwintering spaces will migrate and burrow
into apples soon after petal fall. For a given larva, this migration
takes place within a mere two to three hours. Effective control
using any method therefore depends crucially on identifying when
decisive moments such as these occur.