Green fruitworm
Lithophane antennata
1 host plant
Last updated
Green fruitworm caterpillars tunnel into developing apples and stone fruits during May and June. The larvae are smooth, pale green, and grow to about 1 inch long. Damage appears as deep, irregular holes in young fruit or calyx tissue; larvae feed internally, making them difficult to detect until serious damage occurs. Early detection requires examining developing fruit in late April and early May.
Scout fruit clusters during late April and early May for feeding punctures or small larvae. Remove infested fruit by hand when populations are light. For heavy populations, apply spinosad or biological insecticides targeting larvae before fruit damage progresses. Time applications to late April. In organic systems, monitor using traps and apply botanical insecticides at petal fall.
Quick Reference
Several species of green fruitworms can attack fruit trees. Adult fruitworm moths vary in appearance depending on the species but are generally large, with gray to reddish-brown wings, and are attracted to lights in the fall and spring. Immature larvae are similar to cutworms, with green bodies and heads. Mature larvae are green with white or cream longitudinal stripes. Green fruitworms can also be found feeding on a wide range of hosts such as willow, birch, alder, maple, and strawberry. Green...
Cultural Controls
- Birds often are seen eating green fruitworm larvae.
- Ground predators probably reduce pupal or adult overwintering populations.
- Some parasitic wasps are also important.
- Adults can be collected in black-light traps.
- Hand-pick larvae when thinning fruit.
- Management-