Codling Moth: The cooler weather pattern has slowed degree-day accumulations, and consequently codling moth development has fallen behind last week’s predictions. As of May 5, Henderson and Cleveland County have accumulated 190 and 340 DD, respectively. With the initial egg hatch of the first generation starting at 250 DD, orchards at lower elevations should have applied an insecticide by this time. Under moderate codling moth pressure, the diamides (Altacor, Exirel, Verdepryn or Voliam Flexi) and Delegate will provide two weeks’ residual control. Shorter interval applications may be necessary under intense codling moth pressure or where rainfall has prematurely reduced residue activity.

In Henderson County and similar elevations, 250 DD is now predicted to occur on Sunday, May 10. Hence, in orchards with consistent captures of codling moth in pheromone traps, the ideal timing for an initial insecticide application is this weekend or early next week. In orchards with low codling moth populations (e.g., no recent history of damage, and low and sporadic pheromone trap captures), it is recommended to delay an initial application until about 350 DD, now predicted to occur late next week. Finally, in orchards with mating disruption and low trap captures, an insecticide is usually not required until about approximately 600 DD, which coincides with optimum timing of tufted apple bud moth; this usually occurs in the first or second week of June.

European Red Mite: For those growers choosing to make a preventive miticide application, we are approaching that window of opportunity, generally considered to be between first and second cover spray. However, an alternative timing is to make the application when mites are present at 0.5 to 1 per leaf.

Studies last year confirmed that ERM populations in some orchards were exhibiting increased tolerance to Zeal, which emphasizes the importance of rotating products with different modes of action (MOA). When choosing a product to rotate with Zeal, it is important to remember that Apollo and Savey have similar modes of action to Zeal; both are in IRAC MOA Group 10 (Apollo and Savey 10A, Zeal 10B), so rotating with these products is not recommended. Two other common preventive materials are Agri-Mek (MOA 5), which should be applied at petal fall for best results, and Envidor (MOA 23). Envidor has activity against all mite life stages and also has long residual activity.

Preventive miticide use increased over the last 10 years with the appearance of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) and reliance on pyrethroids to control this insect. Before that time, miticide use was much lower due to biological control. Although no systematic surveys have been conducted, predatory mite populations in commercial orchards were commonly observed last year, suggesting that they have adapted to pyrethroids. For this reason, it would be beneficial to forego preventive miticide use in some orchards to see if we have returned to the situation where biological control alone can provide effective control of ERM.

Learn more about southeastern apple insect pests at the Apple Insect Management page.

2025 Average Weekly Trap Captures