Seasonal development
and life cycle—Oriental fruit moth
Oriental fruit moth overwinter as mature, diapausing larvae inside tightly woven cocoons in protected
places on the tree or in the trash near the base of the tree. In early spring, pupation takes place inside
the cocoon and adults begin emerging in February or early March. Eggs are deposited on newly emerged shoots
and the larvae feed in terminals where they complete their development. Eggs are disc-shaped, white to
creamy in color when first laid, and about 0.03 inch in diameter. Second-generation larvae feed in shoots,
but fruit of some of the earlier cultivars may also be attacked. Subsequent generations may attack shoot
terminals and green fruit, but as fruit matures it becomes the preferred site of attack by this pest.
There are usually five generations per year in California, although a sixth generation has been observed
in years with warm weather in early spring.
