Winter Moth
Scientific group or name: Operophtera brumata
Overview
Winter moth caterpillars feed inside opening buds and on young foliage in spring.
Host plants
Apple, pear, plum, cherry and many deciduous trees and shrubs.
Identification
Caterpillars are green with pale longitudinal lines and move with a looping action. Adult females are virtually wingless.
Damage and symptoms
Feeding damages buds, flowers, leaves and young fruit. Severe attacks can reduce fruit set and defoliate trees.
Lifecycle and favourable conditions
Egg hatch is closely associated with spring bud development, making crop-stage monitoring important.
Monitoring
Inspect buds and flower clusters from bud burst. Look for webbing, frass and small looping caterpillars.
Management
Encourage birds and natural enemies, remove severe localised infestations and manage orchard floor hosts where appropriate.
Biological control and natural enemies
Bacillus thuringiensis and naturally occurring parasitoids can suppress young exposed caterpillars where use is appropriate.
Biological control should be selected only after the pest has been identified and the crop, temperature, growing environment and pest pressure have been considered.
Related BioWiki pages
This page provides general integrated pest-management information. Identification and control decisions should be confirmed for the crop and local situation.