How nature controls codling moth

Natural controls have not proved effective in New Zealand. Yet. Little wax-eyes ( Zosterops

lateralis, also known as silver eye, white eye) will dig out overwintering pupae, but it’s not usually enough to be an effective control.

A parasitic wasp specific to codling was released in New Zealand in 1906. It has survived (in unsprayed orchards), but it has not killed enough codling to reduce the population.

Since 2012, Plant and Food Research has been releasing

Mastrus ridens, another wasp which will lay its parasitic eggs in the eggs of the codling moth. Over 60,000 have been bred and released in the commercial apple regions of Hawkes Bay, Nelson/ Motueka and Central Otago.