North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[<dvidedevo@yahoo.com>]

Hi all-As of last year, I have an infestation of moths that are causing 
severe damage to all soft fruits. They are sort of the avant-garde leading to 
charge to poke holes in the fruit, at which point spotted wing drosophila 
gets in there in a big way and the fruit is summarily ruined in literally a 
single evening. I’ve suffered around 80% loss of my otherwise excellent peach 
crop. They ruined the majority of my American persimmon crop last fall. 
The description of their behavior and feeding is suggestive of the common 
fruit-piercing moth, Eudocina fullonia, although this is a much smaller moth 
and looks very different. To me, it resembles the codling moth, but it’s a 
little over twice the size. It’s very non-descript, all mottled gray, and has 
a pointy proboscis which it inserts into fruit repeatedly in a small area. 
I’m still not sure if it’s feeding or ovipositor (maybe both?), nor can I 
find any info about such a moth. I’m fairly convinced this is a new arrival 
and I’ve yet to find anyone who can corroborate my experience or provide me 
with any info useful or otherwise. Go check your trees at night - mulberries, 
peaches, persimmons- and see if your having the same thing happen.





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