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Lesser Appleworm
Lesser appleworm, Grapholita prunivora, is a common species, although infrequent as a pest in Pennsylvania orchards. Larvae are general fruit feeders attacking apples, pears, peaches, apricots, plums, and cherries.
Description and life cycle
Adults are only 1/4 inch long and are dark colored. When the moth is at rest, a gold band becomes evident across its back. Eggs are white-to-yellowish and are laid singly on leaves and fruit. Larvae are pinkish, have an anal comb, and reach 3/8 inch when mature.
Lesser appleworm has two generations in Pennsylvania. This insect overwinters as full-grown larvae in a cocoon on the tree, under loose bark scales, or in litter on the ground. The life cycle overlaps closely with codling moth.
Larvae form extensive shallow mines under the fruit skin and may burrow deeper as they mature, although not into the core. Feeding injury in the fall is often limited to the calyx region.
Monitoring and management
Management procedures (except species-specific mating disruption) for codling moth also control this pest.