Codling Moth
Cydia pomonella
This record describes Cydia pomonella (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 14-22 mm. A fairly distinctive greyish ' Tortrix ' with a darker, often coppery-brown, roundish patch towards the rear of the wing. The adults occur mainly in July and August and sometimes with a second generation in September and October. The caterpillars feed inside the fruits of Apple, Quince, Pear and other wild and cultivated fruit. It is fairly common throughout much of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Cydia pomonella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cydia pomonella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Leafroller Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Grapholitini
- Genus
- Cydia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Gardens, orchards and hedgerows.
Seasonal Activity
The adults occur mainly in July and August and sometimes with a second generation in September and October.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The caterpillars feed inside the fruits of Apple, Quince, Pear and other wild and cultivated fruit.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is fairly common throughout much of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cydia pomonella. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Codling Moth (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Codling Moth
What is Codling Moth?
Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Codling Moth found?
Habitat: Gardens, orchards and hedgerows.
When is Codling Moth active?
Codling Moth: seasonal activity - The adults occur mainly in July and August and sometimes with a second generation in September and October..
What is the life cycle of a Codling Moth?
The caterpillars feed inside the fruits of Apple, Quince, Pear and other wild and cultivated fruit.