Immediate measures - tips & tricks
Biological control measures with immediate effect take the insatiable larvae of the appleWeb moth targeted. The caterpillars are 18 to 25 mm long, yellowish-green, slightly hairy and dotted with black. Legs and head capsule are dark brown to black. In April the feasting begins on the leaves, buds and flowers of the apple tree. From the middle of May the characteristic, bright webs emerge, under whose protection the rabble is up to mischief. Take action immediately with these manual control measures:
- Spread the foil under the infested apple tree
- Shake the small tree vigorously
- Hosing down large trees with a hard jet of water
- Use the foil to collect fallen larvae and webs
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Please dispose of the pests in the household waste and not on the compost. You can remove individual webs from the Treetop cut out and also throw in the garbage can.
Engage beneficial insects - predators versus spider moths
With immediate manual action, you can never be sure that you have caught all of the pests. We therefore recommend the use of beneficial insects as the second stage of control. Many predators of the apple spider moth are already on site in the near-natural house garden. If necessary, you can increase the population and purchase additional beneficial insects from specialist shops:
- Parasitic wasps(€ 69.90 at Amazon *) (Ichneumonidae) and wood wasps (Chalcidoidea) parasitize the larvae
- Predatory bug species hunt the caterpillars
- Caterpillar flies (Tachinidae) lay their eggs in the moth larvae, which then die
It is important to note that many beneficial insects are specialists. For example, they parasitize Parasitic wasps of the species Trichogramma cacoeciae, the caterpillars of the codling moth, on the other hand, disdain the brood of apple moths. When purchasing beneficial insects, please ask exactly which pests they specialize in.
Retreats with hiding places in the garden ensure that other beneficial insects arrive and that the existing population does not migrate. Piles of leaves, green dry stone walls, wild fruit hedges and a rustic one Benjes hedge invite the beneficial insects to linger so that they can hunt the caterpillars of the apple spider moth.
Tips
In the period from early / mid-April to mid-May, apple-spun moth larvae devote themselves almost unprotected to the leaves and flowers in the apple tree. During this phase, spray the crown repeatedly with soapy solution, the tried and tested biological control agent. You can make the home remedy yourself or buy it ready-made. As a positive side effect, you can use a soap solution to combat other pests at the same time, such as Aphids, Spider mites or scale insects.
