Carob moth

Apomyelois ceratoniae

1. Identification

• Common name: Carob moth
• Scientific name: Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller
• Synonym: Apomyelois ceratoniae Zeller
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Pyralidae

2. Pest description

• Whitish to pinkish caterpillars, which feed inside the fruits.
• Adults of brownish colouring, with narrow and discreetly patterned forewings.
• Attacks mainly dried or semi-dried fruits, penetrating the interior to feed.
• Common species in Mediterranean regions, with a strong impact on crops of high commercial value.

3. Main hosts

• Carob tree.
• Fig tree.
• Pomegranate tree.
• Citrus.
• Almond tree.
• Various stored dried fruits.

4. Symptoms and damage

• Perforations in the fruits and presence of exudates.
• Internal galleries with residues and excrement.
• Premature fruit drop.
• Reduced commercial quality and contamination by larvae.
• Significant damage to stored fruits.

5. Biological cycle

• Several generations per year in warm climates.
• Eggs laid on the surface of the fruits or in cracks in the rind.
• Caterpillars rapidly penetrate the fruit, where they complete their development.
• Pupation inside the fruit or in the soil.
• Adults active during much of the year in Mediterranean regions.

6. Monitoring

• Observation of perforated fruits and those with internal residues.
• Opening of suspect fruits for detection of caterpillars.
• Monitoring with pheromone traps for flight detection.
• Assessment of the percentage of attacked fruits in the orchard and in storage.

7. Management measures

• Cultural: collection and destruction of fallen fruits, cleaning of the soil and adequate storage management.
• Biological: conservation of natural parasitoids and use of pheromones for monitoring and, when applicable, mating disruption.
• Integrated protection: interventions only when justified, judicious application of authorised insecticides and integration of cultural practices to reduce pest incidence.

Bibliographic references

• EPPO Global Database – Apomyelois ceratoniae.
• CABI Invasive Species Compendium – A. ceratoniae.
• Navarro‑Llopis, V., & Vacas, S. (2014). Monitoring and control of A. ceratoniae in Mediterranean orchards. Journal of Applied Entomology.
• Alford, D. (2007). Pest management in fruit crops.
• Vacante, V. (2016). Insect pests of Mediterranean fruit crops.