The Plum Moth

[cheops]

The plum moth. Never knew it existed till this year's plum harvest. I have four different varieties of plum trees and all have been infected - possibly as much as 80% of the fruit. My damson tree is laden with fruit but as they are not ripe yet I can't say to what degree they are infected. This is the first year I've had any experience with the plum moth. Previous years I've enjoyed the harvest of plums blissfully unaware. You can't buy plums for any amount of money which can compare to home grown plums so it is a major disappointment to find a plum moth maggot in almost every plum. I've noticed fruit which ripens early and drops is usually the infected fruit.
I've extensively researched this problem and everywhere is saying 'spraying' is difficult if not impossible due to how do you know the moths are present. As mentioned above pheremone traps are always recommended. And FB interestingly suggests a sacrificial tree.
I can see the logic and benefit of both the traps and the sacrificial tree but personally neither are sufficiently effective for me. Traps are yet another expense to be added to the growing of plums and will catch most of the males but NOT ALL. A sacrificial tree requires more land and will not STOP 100% infection. Personally I want to be able to take a plum of the tree and with 100% confidence bite into it.
Now as to why I am writing this post. I'm thinking next year from the middle of May till the beginning of August I'm going to loosely but completely wrap the trees in builders' debris netting. This may look unsightly but not as unsightly as a maggot infested plum. I can't see how this wouldn't work but as it's never been suggested here or in any online material I have read I'm worried there is a reason why this wouldn't work - a reason I have completely missed.
I would appreciate anyone's views on why this would work or indeed why it would result in failure. Or indeed does anyone do this and has a successful harvest each year. As always thanks in advance.

[Mysterious Gardener]

Annoying creatures aren't they? Plum moths are controlled either by using insecticides (up to you if you want to use these or not) or by placing pheromone traps and/or attracting creatures to your garden that eat them (chickens, titmouse...).

The problem I see with using netting is the fact that the plum moth overwinters in dead bark and cavities in your trees, so you may not be able to keep them out.

[cheops]

ok thanks for your input MG- these are things I need to know.
I have read online many of the larvae emerging from the plums drop down into the soil and overwinter there. However I have checked again and as you say they can overwinter in dead bark and other cavities. As far as I can see these overwintering places are not necessarily in MY actual plum trees and as my trees are relatively young the bark is quite smooth. Therefore I think I'm right in saying they are unlikely to overwinter in my plum trees. Also every plum I dissected and THEN killed every maggot so again these at least won't overwinter anywhere. If I cover the trees next year the only moth able to lay their eggs on the plums are any who have somehow overwintered in my plum trees. Infection should at worst be less and again if I kill every maggot then the following year there can't be any emerging moths under the netting. I'm desperate for this to work so I written the above hoping people will agree with me or shoot holes in my argument so I can rethink. Thanks again Mysterious Gardener.

[yummersetter]

Just a quick thought - the netting would keep moths out but possibly cut down air flow and cause fungal problems, especially in damp weather. Also, I find that my plum trees during the fruit maturing time are visited frequently by small birds - tits, sparrows and robins who pick off the aphids, caterpillars and other bugs which undercover would probably multiply to destructive levels without their predation.
On the other hand, I get irritated by plum maggots too and would like your idea to work. I hadn't thought of debris netting, but use something similar to keep the birds off ripening berries on bushes. I grow a few plums of fruiting age and find that Japanese Satsuma plums are untouched, Anna Spath, mirabelles and greengages have about one in a hundred damaged fruits, Early Transparent and Kirkes Blue about a quarter, and Victorias have worms in half of them.
I guess the answer to your post is - try it and tell us how it worked.

[cheops]

Thanks Yummersetter for your input. I never thought about the air flow being restricted. That could be a problem - will see for myself next year. I prune the trees to keep their size as I want it but also to allow sun and air to easily pass 'through' the tree so hopefully that will help. I also read online the moths are most active at dusk so perhaps 'unveiling' late morning till afternoon would also help though I don't want any infestation at all no matter how small. Aphids and bugs I think would be well restricted because of the netting - I think debris netting is greenfly proof. I emphasise I think. Interesting you can see how each of your varieties are infested compared to each other.
I'm definitely gonna try it. I have already sourced the debris netting. And I will definitely post the results good or bad.

[purplekat]

I know this is an old thread but did you have any success dealing with these annoying creatures? I've ordered a pheromone trap, but don't really want to spray

[GBax]

Take all the infected fruit and throw it away and give the trees a winter wash to reduce them overwintering.

next year set Pheromone traps……..they won't do enough to stop the problem but will inform you when to spray.

[Losos]

I know this is an old thread but did you have any success dealing with these annoying creatures? I've ordered a pheromone trap, but don't really want to spray

He was posting (On other threads) as recently as yesterday afternoon so maybe he will update us. It sure would be good to know if that netting had any effect. I've decided to get one pheromone trap as well, I love the plums we get on our tree and don't want these little blighters getting any

[purplekat]

Take all the infected fruit and throw it away and give the trees a winter wash to reduce them overwintering.

next year set Pheromone traps……..they won't do enough to stop the problem but will inform you when to spray.

Unfortunately last year there was long grass around the trees, so a lot of dodgy fruit dropped and got lost, I imagine it's going to be a bad year. The trees need a good prune though, so will probably not fruit next year, hopefully that's long enough to break the cycle a bit (especially if I clear this years fruit).