For a couple years, our apple crop has been plagued by coddling moths. The larvae of coddling moths burrow into the fruit early on in the season, feed on the seeds, and when the mature worm has freeloaded until it’s full, it makes its way out of the ruined fruit and, as if to add insult to injury, takes a shit in its tunnel to leave its mark. Just vulgar.
This year, we’re taking an aggressive and proactive approach to our coddling moth problem. Along with a couple of coddling moth traps for use a little later in the season, we have invested in beneficial nematodes. While it’s probably too early to express gratitude for their effectiveness in our backyard, I am glad to understand and appreciate how they work. It’s entirely fascinating.