Plum moth monitoring and control in Europe

Monitoring and controlling plum moth (Grapholita funebruna) in European orchards is essential to prevent yield losses of 40% to 95%. The pest has two annual generations, with a third possible in warmer climates. First-generation larvae cause gummosis, premature fruit color change, and drop; second-generation larvae tunnel internally, rendering fruits inedible. Effective control includes mating disruption using pheromone dispensers installed from early April and targeted applications of Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki during peak hatching. Pheromone traps are not species-specific and may attract other Grapholita species, including the Oriental fruit moth. Recommended practices include placing dispensers at field edges, selecting early-ripening varieties, and using multi-species lures for monitoring. Host plants include plum, apricot, peach, and almond. The document, published by VSUO in 2023 and available in English (USA), Danish, and Czech, is part of the Biofruitnet project for organic fruit production and hosted on Organic Eprints.