Comprehensive Control Methods for the Peach Borer Moth in Peach Cultivation

The peach borer moth larvae bore into and feed on peach fruit, causing gumming; the fruit discolors and drops, or the interior becomes filled with insect frass, making it unfit to eat, and this has a great impact on both yield and quality.

I. Occurrence pattern. In Shandong, this pest occurs in 2-3 generations per year, mainly overwintering as mature larvae in cocoons inside damaged mummified peaches, bark crevices, gaps among loose stones in embankments, chestnut burs, sunflower heads, castor seeds, and corn and sorghum stalks, with a small portion overwintering as pupae. In Shandong, the first moth emergence of the overwintering generation occurs in mid-May, with the peak in early to mid-June; most eggs of the 1st generation are laid on early-maturing peach varieties, with the most eggs laid on the ventral (belly) side; the newly hatched larvae appear in mid-to-late June and mainly damage early-maturing peach fruit, boring into the fruit to feed; mature larvae spin cocoons and pupate at the stem cavity of damaged fruit and in bark crevices. The 1st-generation adults begin emerging in early July, with the peak from late July to early August; adults are highly selective in egg-laying, basically laying eggs on late-maturing peach varieties and pomegranates; newly hatched 2nd-generation larvae are found in mid-to-late July, with the peak in early to mid-August; by late July, larvae are already found maturing and pupating. The pupation peak is in mid-to-late August. As late-maturing peaches begin to be harvested, adults then move to other crops to lay eggs and continue causing damage.

The adults of the peach borer moth have a strong attraction to blacklight lamps and are also attracted to sugar-vinegar solution; the adults are active at night and hide by day.

The occurrence of the peach borer moth has a certain relationship with rainfall; generally, abundant rain in April-May favors its occurrence, and when the relative humidity is 80%, the pupation and emergence rates of overwintering larvae are both high.

II. Control measures

(1) Agricultural control

1. Strengthen field management: pruned branches and removed infested fruit should be gathered for composting; before harvest in autumn, tie grass around the tree trunks to attract overwintering larvae, then burn it in early spring.

2. Eliminate overwintering hosts around the orchard. At the same time, before early May of the following year, dispose of the stalks and flower heads of crops such as corn, sorghum and sunflower to reduce the overwintering pest population.

(2) Chemical control

Because the peach borer moth is a boring insect pest with strong concealment during the damage period, control should seize the appropriate timing, namely the early larval hatching stage.

1. Control of adults: (1) During the adult occurrence period and egg-laying peak, spray 50% dichlorvos 1000x solution in the field to prevent adults from laying eggs, which can achieve good control results. (2) During the adult occurrence period, blacklight lamps or sugar-vinegar solution can be used to trap and kill adults. In addition, where conditions permit, bagging of fruit can be used to prevent the pest.

2. Control of larvae: (1) Around late May (early hatching stage of the 1st-generation larvae), spray 50% fenitrothion 1000-1500x solution, or 90% trichlorfon 1000-1500x solution, or 20% fenvalerate 2000-3000x solution, and spray once more after 7 days, which can achieve good control results. (2) In mid-July (early hatching stage of the 2nd-generation larvae), the same pesticides can be used.

In addition, controlling the peach borer moth in the orchard together with other host crops around the orchard gives good results.