Plum fruit moths

Abstract

Caterpillars of many species of moth occur on plum trees, but the majority feed only on the foliage and usually occur in small numbers. However, caterpillars of two species feed on the fruits. These are the plum fruit moth (Cydia funebrana (Treitschke)) and the fruitlet mining tortrix (Pammene rhediella (Clerck)). Both species are widely distributed in Britain; plum fruit moth is the more common pest, whereas fruitlet mining tortrix occurs sporadically and is less often noted attacking plum. Caterpillars of the plum fruit moth normally feed on the fruits of blackthorn (sloe) but are also locally common pests of cultivated plum and damson. They attack the fruits from June to September and often cause considerable losses. Caterpillars of the fruitlet mining tortrix feed on hawthorn berries and sometimes also attack fruits of plum and apple in late May, June and July. For the description of the fruitlet mining tortrix on apple, see page 137.