Codling Moth
Pest · Commonly affects: Apple, Pear, Crab apple, Quince, Ornamental apple, Ornamental pear
Codling moth is the familiar cause of maggoty apples and pears in UK gardens. Its caterpillars enter developing fruit and feed around the core, often leaving a brown, crumbly trail. A neglected infestation can make much of a small crop unusable, but careful monitoring and orchard hygiene can greatly reduce future numbers.
How to identify it
The adult is a small, grey-brown moth about 8-10 mm long at rest, marked with fine wavy lines and a coppery patch near each wing tip. It is seldom noticed. The creamy-pink caterpillar has a brown head and reaches about 15-20 mm. Look instead for a small entry hole, brown frass around the eye or stalk end, and a tunnel leading towards the core. Infested fruit may fall early.
Damage
Newly hatched caterpillars bore into apples and pears, then feed on seeds and surrounding flesh. Their tunnels introduce decay and leave fruit with a soiled, maggoty core. Damaged fruit often drops before it ripens; fruit that remains may look sound until cut open. Repeated annual infestations can become worse where fallen fruit is left beneath trees.
Prevention
Collect and dispose of windfalls regularly from early summer onwards, including any fruit with entry holes. Thin crowded fruitlets so that fruit does not touch, and prune trees to create an open canopy that is easy to inspect. Use pheromone traps from late spring to monitor adult activity and help reduce mating. Encourage birds by retaining nesting places, water and insect-rich planting around the garden.
How to manage it
Remove suspect fruit from the tree and ground as soon as it is found, rather than adding it to home compost. Check pheromone traps regularly and refresh them according to their instructions, using catches to focus fruit inspections. In winter, inspect rough bark, stakes and stored picking boxes for sheltered cocoons, then clean or replace them. Maintain tidy ground beneath trees and allow birds access where safe.
Codling Moth: frequently asked questions
How do I identify codling moth?
The adult is a small, grey-brown moth about 8-10 mm long at rest, marked with fine wavy lines and a coppery patch near each wing tip.
How do I prevent codling moth?
Collect and dispose of windfalls regularly from early summer onwards, including any fruit with entry holes.
How do I get rid of codling moth?
Remove suspect fruit from the tree and ground as soon as it is found, rather than adding it to home compost.
General guidance for UK home gardens and allotments, focused on prevention and non-chemical control. For a confirmed diagnosis, the RHS or a local garden centre can help. Page updated 19 Sep 2026.