Re: Nashi Pear
Not sure if the coddling moth exists in Japan, but I did see what steps
they take to grow blemish/insect/disease free pears and fruits. Each fruit
is wrapped inside a double paper bag (outside layer red, inner layer light
colored). As the fruit matures the appropriate bag is removed until both
the innner and outer removed to allow the fruit sunlight to color up
nicely. Also the fruit is turned so tha all sides get enough light and
even leaves removed. They were really good apple and pears. Not really
practical here unless you have a lot of time. From what I remember of the
coddling moth life cycle, eggs laid on the fruit larve emerges and enters
the fruit, eating its way in. Might be possible to disrupt oviposition of
larval entry via overhead irrigation in the evenings (works on corn
earworm, as I noted the months with the most rain in Hilo produced the best
ears of corn, 0 infestations, OK the rusts and blights werent the best,
but....) Also it may be possible to do a single application of BT to
prevent most of the fruit infestations.....
MTF
>I'm in Davis, CA, just outside of Sacramento. I have a 'Twentieth Century'
>in my garden. It is self-fruitful and an extremely heavy bearer and needs
>heavy thining each year. This variety is very early and is yellow (sl.
>speckled). The fruit ripens over just a couple weeks. It is so delicious
>that I have never had trouble giving it away.
>Unfortunately, the codling moth problem has gotten so bad that this year,
>75-80% of the fruit had larva and had to be put in the trash. Since I
>refuse to spray and the non-spray methods of control have simply not been
>sufficient, I have been thinking of having the tree removed. However, one
>of my friends who grows several European pear varieties told me that in
>her orchard she had a couple varieties that had also been very heavily
>attacked by codling moth this year. So, I'm torn as I do like the fruit
>very much. I may leave the tree for another year and hope that this year
>was just worse than usual.
>
>Dana Drennan
>Davis, California
>USDA Zone 9, Sunset Zone 14
>
>
Mach T. Fukada
AKA member 07778
fukada@aloha.net
MACh Tech,
Macintosh Computer and Agriculture/Aquaculture Consulting
Visit our friends at the Honolulu Aquarium Society
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