APPLE CLEARWING MOTH

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Title: APPLE CLEARWING MOTH
Description: LATIN NAME: Synanthedon myopaeformis (Borkh) LIFE CYCLE: Overwinter as larvae in feeding tunnels under the bark, most commonly at the tree base. They pupate in late spring. Adults are present from mid-June to September. Eggs are laid on burr knots and near damaged bark and cankers anywhere on host trees. Larvae take two years to mature and are present year round. There is only one generation of adults per year. MONITORING: Set out pheromone traps in early June to monitor adult moths. Also examine lower scaffold limbs, trunk and tree base for sawdust-like castings expelled by feeding larvae. HOSTS: Apple, pear, stone fruits, hawthorn, mountain ash. COMMENTS: Closely examine captured moths in traps near stone fruit blocks as male peach tree borer moths may also be captured. Male apple clearwing moths have a dark orange to red band across the abdomen whereas male peach tree borers have a blue band. This moth is also known as the red-belted clearwing moth. BODY LENGTH: Adult wingspan - 18-22 mm; Mature larva - 15-17 mm.