Common orchard pests

There’s a long list of orchard pests and diseases ready to descend and, if given half a chance, rob you of the delicious fruit harvest you have worked so hard for. Here are three common ones to watch out for.

Codling moth

Codling moths lay eggs on leaves, stems and fruit and the hatching caterpillars burrow inside the fruit to feed. The caterpillar exits the fruit 3–4 weeks later and wanders down the branch looking for a protected spot in a crevice or under bark to pupate. There can be multiple generations per year particularly in warmer climates.
Vulnerable trees: Apples, pears, quinces and other pome fruit, along with stone fruits.
Control options: Pheromone traps let you know when moths are active and when exclusion bags or insect netting needs to go up. Rub down branches to remove potential pupating locations and install cardboard bands around the trunk. These can be peeled back periodically to check for any pupae which have snuck in.

Leaf curl

This fungal disease impacts stone fruit trees causing severe puckering and distortion of foliage. Damaged leaves often drop resulting in bare trees until replacement foliage develops. Young fruit may also be infected and drop.
Vulnerable trees: Common on peaches and nectarines and occasionally on apricots and almonds.
Control options: Spores overwinter on stems and reinfect trees when buds open in late winter or early spring. Apply copper sprays just before buds open to kills spores and prevent infection. Timing is critical.

Citrus leafminer

Citrus leaves that curl and distort during the warmer months are thanks to the citrus leafminer. The moth lays eggs on new foliage and once hatched the tiny caterpillar burrows inside the leaf. As it feeds it creates irregular tunnels, or mines, which are visible as silvery squiggles on the leaf. This feeding causes the young leaf to twist and curl as it grows. The occasional distorted leaf is nothing to worry about but if their numbers increase it can impact tree vigour and reduce yields. Young trees should be protected.
Vulnerable trees: All citrus.
Control options: Impacted leaves can be pulled off and binned. Hang a pheromone trap to catch the moths or apply botanical oil sprays whenever new foliage is present to deter egg laying. Avoid fertilising trees in summer as this will encourage susceptible new growth when the citrus leafminer moth numbers are at their peak.

Tip

Prune trees to improve airflow and reduce the likelihood of diseases but to also keep them to a manageable size for netting or spraying.

Unfortunately there’s more pests and diseases to watch out for than the three listed here: a more comprehensive list is in our Autumn 2026 issue. You’ll find it in newsagents and selected supermarkets. Or you can subscribe here to get an issue delivered to your door!