Fruit Bites for August 23-25 ... ACM
BL: Welcome back to another “Fruit Bites” brought to you by Valent U.S.A. With us again is Valent’s Allison Walston. And this week Allison, we are talking about a new invasive insect pest.AW: yes, a pest called the apple clearwing moth. It was found in the Hood River Valley back in June in one of the Oregon Department of Ag survey traps. It has been up in the British Columbia Okanagan for many years and expected to move south.
BL: why is this pest worrisome?
AW: Very similar to a peachtree borer, the larvae burrow and feed under the bark, on the cambium, of trees like apple, pear, cherry and other stone fruit. Younger trees can be girdled and die. Older trees might be able to handle some injury. The moths are dark blue-black, with clear wings outlined in black and a very bright orange stripe on the abdomen. In May, look at grafts, burr knots and pruning scars for orange frass that looks like sawdust and pupal cases protruding from the bark. Pheromone lures and traps are available for monitoring.
BL: Well, thanks Allison. Join us again next time for Fruit Bites, brought to you by Valent. Until then, I’m Bob Larson.