As August approaches, apple insect activity continues to pick up. Although many orchards still have low pest pressure, codling moth, oriental fruit moth (OFM), apple maggot and brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) can all be found in one place or another. Some of these locations historically have high numbers of one or more pests, and reduced insecticide inputs due to poor crop loads or early season hail damage have contributed to increased pressure at other locations. If an orchard falls in these categories, or is adjacent to one that does, monitoring is especially important.

Codling Moth and OFM: In Henderson County we are nearing the end of second generation codling moth egg hatch (about 2000 degree days (DD), equivalent to 92% egg hatch complete), and continued adult captures in pheromone traps suggest third generation adults are emerging. While populations have been low in many locations, significant damage was recently observed in a couple of orchards. In most situations infested fruits include both codling moth and OFM larvae. Trap captures of both pests have been relatively high in orchards with low insecticide inputs, so both can remain a threat depending on location.

BMSB. As of July 30, cumulative BMSB degree-day accumulations are 766, indicating that about 6% of first generation adults have emerged. This is the earliest emergence of first generation BMSB adults in recent memory. While trap captures went up only slightly this week, they are expected to increase over the next several weeks. Trends over the past several years suggest that overall populations are declining in the region, but this can vary considerably among locations. Hence, on those cultivars most susceptible to BMSB damage, an insecticide should be considered within the next week or so.

Most pyrethroids will provide suppression of BMSB, but bifenthrin is the most effective. Note that Brigade and Bifenthrin are the only two formulations of bifenthrin registered on apples. The 2EC formulation has a wide rate range (2.6 to 12.8 fl oz/acre), but a rate of 6 to 9 ounces should be used for stink bugs. Note: Pyrethroids will also provide excellent control of OFM and apple maggot (see below).

Apple Maggot: Fly captures on traps have been non-existent at the Research Station in Mills River, but high numbers continue to be captured on traps at a commercial site not being managed this year, and which historically has captured flies. Monitoring with traps is clearly the best approach to making management decisions.

2025 Average Weekly Trap Captures