Cherry FruitwormThis moth is an occasional pest in coastal cherry orchards. Mature larvae are gray caterpillars with numerous red, blue, and yellow spots and four white tufts of hair on their backs, two black tufts on their heads, and one on their tail ends.
They emerge in March and mature in May; when mature they are 0.5 to 1 inch long. Adults are active from May through July. Males are gray moths; females are grayish white and lack wings. Only one generation is produced each year.
Larvae are insignificant foliar feeders, but may feed on the surface of fruit sufficiently in some years to warrant control measures. Feeding results in shallow, scabby, depressed areas at harvest. Watch for these moth egg cases on leaves and twigs as you monitor orchards in spring before and during bloom. Begin to look for larvae in March.
Photo courtesy Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
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