GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) — Mesa County officials are drawing attention to a pest that could spoil your apple pie.
The Upper Grand Valley Pest Control District, along with the CSU Tri-River Extension Office and Mesa County, are collaborating efforts to increase public understanding about codling moths, insects commonly found infesting apple and pear trees.
The codling moth, which is typically encountered as larvae, burrows into apples, making them mostly uneatable.
Subsequently, the larvae are light pink or white and tend to be most visible during the early part of summer.
One neglected orchard or someone failing to contribute impacts everyone,” explained Jeff Pieper, a commercial horticulturist and natural resources specialist at Colorado State University. “The broader point here is that when individuals aren’t participating—often these are homeowners who simply lack awareness—it has repercussions for all.
Pieper emphasizes that whether you’re a homeowner or a grower, it’s crucial to keep an eye on your fruit by using a pheromone trap to attract codling moths. If you have a moth problem, reduce the number of fruits so they do not touch each other, or enclose them individually with paper bags; this method can help remove the codling moths from the affected produce.
