Waikato
December
Q.
Hi Tui, I had little worms in every one of my mandarins last year and my plums this year have now got the same. Every plum this year has a worm or eaten bit inside. What are they and what can I do to prevent next season. I have sprayed citrus trees with conqueror oil twice in the last 3 weeks. Thank you.
Jackie Herbert
A.
Hi Jackie, I suspect this is Guava moth which is fast becoming a huge pest problem commercially and for the home gardener. Conqueror Oil will not be effective against this moth, but is good to control other insect pests such as scale, whitefly, mites and aphids. The adult moth lays eggs on the outside of fruit and when they hatch, they burrow into the fruit, which makes them very hard to control. Insecticides are not effective as the larvae are on the outside of the fruit for a very short period of time. To minimise the damage of guava moth the best thing to use are guava moth pheromone traps hung in the trees to attract the males and break the lifecycle of the moth, these are available at garden centres and DIY stores. Don't leave infected fruit fallen on the ground as the larvae overwinter in the soil and when conditions are right they emerge and the adult lays eggs on fruit, starting the lifecycle again. Another thing that can be done, but probably not practical for your plum tree, (but can be used for feijoas) is placing fine mesh bags over the fruit once they are pollinated to prevent the moth laying eggs on the fruit. Do not compost fallen fruit, dispose of or burn, keep the area under the tree well mown. The Tui Team.
Post a comment
What are the small worms in my plum and mandarin trees and how do I stop them? Comments
I found worms in my plums. There are pinholes on the skin of the plums.
koringo marshall
The Tui Team
If you pick your plums, soak them in water overnight the fruit worm will exit the fruit, you can then use the fruit for bottling or making jam or freeze until you need them. To stop the fruit worm spreading, pick up any fallen fruit and dispose of in the rubbish, do not compost as this helps it spread. Burn any prunings or dispose of in the rubbish.
Hi, I find adding white vinegar to the water gets the caterpillar out. But once they have been in the fruit there is usually a lot of damage making the fruit inedible and if cooking, a very laborious job cutting out the rot. I am about to neem my big old plum trees and big old feijoa, also my citrus which it infects as well. By spreading the powder all on the ground underneath the trees and when the fruit is just forming spray with neem oil. All in all, very distressing. Funny thing is it doesn't go near my guava tree or thank goodness my grapes are free of it.
virginia jones