Pest & Disease Information

Codling Moth

The Codling moth originated in Asia Minor, but has been a principal pest of apple and pear in North America for more than 200 years. They spend the winter as a mature larva in a cocoon, in litter at the base of the tree, in wood piles, on picking bins in the orchard or on farm buildings near packing sheds where culled apples might have been dumped. Damage is caused by feeding of the larvae in fruit. Deep entries occur when larvae bore to the center of the fruit and feed on seeds. Stings are shallow entries where the larvae died or gave up and tried another place.

Read the full article at the WSU Tree Fruit website.

San Jose Scale

The San Jose scale was once a devastating pest of fruit trees. In 1922, more than 1,000 acres of mature apple trees were killed in southern Illinois by this insect. The scale was first introduced in the United States in 1870 in the San Jose Valley of California on nursery stock shipped from the Orient. With the introduction of the long-lasting chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides, namely DDT, during World War II, San Jose scale disappeared from the scene and was no longer a threat to the commercial fruit producer.

Little Cherry & Western X

Little Cherry Disease is caused by Western X Phytoplasma as well as Little cherry virus 1 (LChV1) and Little cherry virus 2 (LChV2). Diseased trees produce cherries of small size and poor color and flavor making the fruit unmarketable. Western X is at epidemic levels in the Columbia River basin, with high incidence from Yakima, Benton, and Franklin counties, and present in Oregon around Hood River.