Fresh Options for Codling Moth Control in Apple Orchards

The codling moth (Cydia pomonella) is a perennial threat to apple production worldwide, a problem exacerbated by resistance that has developed after decades of heavy insecticide use. Two new products are showing promise for controlling this crop-damaging pest, although proper mixing and application timing remain critical for maximum effectiveness.

A NEW CHEMISTRY FOR CODLING MOTH

The Environmental Protection Agency recently approved Syngenta’s Plinazolin technology, which is featured in five new insecticides, including Zivalgo. Tested on pome fruit in the Pacific Northwest, Zivalgo has delivered compelling results against codling moth and leafrollers, says David Biddinger, tree fruit research entomologist at Penn State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

Zivalgo introduces a new mode of action to specialty crops as part of Syngenta’s rollout of IRAC Group 30 chemistries. Powered by the active ingredient isocycloseram, Zivalgo targets the pest’s nervous system by blocking normal chemical signals, causing overstimulation that leads to paralysis.

Biddinger tested Zivalgo during high-pressure trials on 12 acres at the Penn State Research and Extension Center. There he observed strong efficacy against codling moth and mites, both major pests of apples and pears. Zivalgo is also labeled for citrus to control thrips and has shown no resistance or cross-resistance to other insecticides, Biddinger says.

Zivalgo works by contact and quickly stops insects from feeding after ingestion. When applied to foliage, the formulation remains effective even after exposure to rain or irrigation. That said, growers must be thorough in their management programs. Those who skip sprays one year will likely face heavier pressure the next, Biddinger says.

“Growers will back off on spraying, but there will be many more moths in that second year,” Biddinger says. “With Zivalgo, you have to completely cover both sides of the tree and the fruit. Zivalgo provides long residual control against larvae.”

A PHYSICAL APPROACH TO PEST CONTROL

A new line of insecticides from Attune Agriculture also offers improved codling moth control, but through a physical mode of action. Attune’s Entrapment product turns traditional tank mixes into adhesive “traps” that immobilize small insects while allowing larger beneficial insects to escape unharmed.

Newly hatched larvae are prime targets for Entrapment, as the product works best on insects and mites smaller than 4 millimeters long. Unlike many conventional insecticides, Entrapment’s physical mode of action makes it far less susceptible to resistance, Biddinger said.

“Entrapment uses xanthan gum, which is a food product, and works by sticking the insect to a leaf or apple,” he says. “Since they’re small, it’s really effective on codling moth.”

TIMING AND COVERAGE ARE CRITICAL

Using Zivalgo and Entrapment in rotation is an effective strategy against codling moth, a pest notorious for developing resistance to single modes of action, Biddinger says. Pairing Entrapment with Altacor (chlorantraniliprole, FMC) also has produced strong results against the orchard pest, he adds.

In addition to codling moth, Entrapment is registered to control aphids, young caterpillars, leafhoppers, psyllids, scales, flea beetles, thrips, and whiteflies. Even larger insects that escape the initial spray droplets often become immobilized by the tacky residue left on their bodies.

Entrapment has no impact on pollinators through either oral or topical exposure, while its physical mode of action makes resistance largely a nonissue. Whether using Entrapment or Zivalgo, growers should target larvae before they cause irreparable crop damage, Biddinger says.

“Time those sprays instead of guessing,” he says. “Some folks alternate row-middle spraying, but that’s not going to work here. You want to spray both sides of the trees and the fruit during this critical period.”