How Codling Moths Damage Fruit and When to Treat

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Codling moths, along with oriental fruit moth and lesser appleworm, are major internal fruit-feeding pests that can damage most fruit in untreated orchards. While the larvae of these species cause similar injury, each requires different control strategies at specific times of the growing season, making accurate identification essential for effective management.

Adult codling moths are about 3/8 inches long and gray, with darker wing bases and a distinctive coppery patch near the wing tip. Their larvae have cream to pink bodies, brown heads, and dark markings behind the head, growing up to 5/8 inches when mature.

Eggs are laid individually and appear as flat, oval discs. Larvae of oriental fruit moth and lesser appleworm are smaller but otherwise resemble codling moth larvae.

Codling moths overwinter as mature larvae hidden under leaf litter, loose bark, or other protected areas. Pupation begins around the pink bud stage, with the first adult flight typically occurring near full bloom in early May. Peak flight follows about two weeks later.

Eggs hatch within 8 to 14 days, and young larvae bore into fruit, often entering at the blossom end before tunneling to the core to feed on seeds.

After three to four weeks, larvae exit the fruit and either pupate to produce another generation or enter dormancy. A second generation is common, and under certain conditions, a third “suicide generation” may occur late in the season, causing additional fruit damage but not surviving winter.

Damage appears as tunnels or shallow “stings,” often accompanied by frass at the entry point. Effective control depends on careful monitoring and well-timed insecticide applications that target newly hatched larvae, beginning at late petal fall and continuing with cover sprays as needed.

Orchard sanitation, trunk banding, mating disruption products, and biological controls such as codling moth granulosis virus can also help reduce populations and protect fruit quality.

Photo Credit: istock-rixipix