Peach Fruit Moth

Carposina sasakii

1. Identification

• Common name: Peach fruit moth
• Scientific name: Carposina sasakii Matsumura
• Recognised synonym: In the past, C. sasakii was erroneously considered a synonym of C. niponensis.
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Carposinidae

2. Pest description

• Pinkish to cream caterpillars, with a brown head, reaching 10–12 mm.
• Small adults, with brownish forewings and a discreet pattern; wingspan of 12–16 mm.
• Caterpillars feed inside the fruits, causing significant internal damage.
• Species of great economic importance in stone fruit and pome fruit.

3. Main hosts

• Peach.
• Plum, cherry, apricot and other species of the genus Prunus spp.
• Apple and pear.

4. Symptoms and damage

• Entry perforations in the fruits, often with gummy exudation.
• Internal galleries filled with droppings and destroyed tissue.
• Premature drop of attacked fruits.
• High commercial losses due to internal deterioration of the fruits.

5. Biological cycle

• Eggs laid singly on the surface of the fruits or on nearby leaves.
• Caterpillars penetrate the fruits rapidly, where they complete their development.
• Pupation occurs in the soil or in shelters in the bark of the trees.
• Adults emerge in spring and summer; generally one to two generations per year, depending on the climate.

6. Monitoring

• Observation of perforations and gummy exudation in the fruits.
• Sampling of fallen fruits for the detection of internal galleries.
• Pheromone traps for the detection of adults and determination of the flight peaks.
• Phenological monitoring to adjust the timing of interventions.

7. Management measures

• Cultural: collection and destruction of fallen fruits; superficial tillage of the soil to expose pupae.
• Preventive: regular monitoring of orchards and integration with phenological models.
• Biological: promotion of natural enemies and use of Bacillus thuringiensis in the young stages (when applicable).
• Integrated protection: definition of intervention thresholds, judicious use of authorised insecticides and synchronisation with the flight peaks detected by traps.

Bibliographic references

• CABI – Invasive Species Compendium – Carposina sasakii.
• EPPO Global Database – Carposina sasakii.
• Alford, D. V. (2007). Pest and Disease Management Handbook. Blackwell Publishing.
• Yang, M.‑M. et al. (2003). Biology and management of the peach fruit moth. Journal of Applied Entomology, 127, 17–25.
• Ishiguri, Y. et al. (1990). Monitoring and control of Carposina sasakii in fruit orchards. Applied Entomology and Zoology, 25, 1–10.