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The carpocapse (Cydia pomonella) is one of the main pests of fruit orchards, especially for apple and pear trees. This night butterfly can cause extensive damage to fruit, making it difficult or impossible to eat. Yet there are many natural and ecological methods to limit its spread and protect your crops without resorting to toxic chemicals. In this test, we will explore in detail effective strategies against this harmful, with a focus on environmentally friendly solutions.
1. Understanding the Carpocapse: A Redoutable Splitting
1.1 The Life Cycle of Carpocapse
The carpocapse is an insect whose life cycle is closely linked to fruit trees. The main stages of its development are as follows:
- Chenille Caterpillar: This step is the most destructive. The caterpillars are introduced into the fruit to feed on their flesh, causing visible holes and rapid deterioration.
- Pupaison Puploite: After completing their larval stage, they turn into chrysalis, often nestled under the bark of the trees or in the ground.
- Adulte Adults: Butterflies usually emerge in spring or summer, ready to lay their eggs on young fruit.
1.2 Caused damage
The damage caused by the carpocapse is manifold:
- Pierced fruit: The caterpillars dig galleries inside the fruit, making them unfit for consumption.
- Early rot: Infected fruit often falls before maturity, resulting in significant losses.
- Continuous cycle: Depending on the region, several generations can follow one another in the same season, amplifying the damage.
Understanding this cycle is essential for appropriate preventive and curative measures.
2. Natural Response Methods
2.1 Use of Pheromone Traps
Pheromone traps are an effective solution for trapping males and reducing carpocapse populations. These devices use chemical molecules that mimic female sex pheromones, attracting males to sticky plates where they remain trapped.
How to use them
- Installation Installation: Place the traps at about 1m20 to 1m50m from the ground on a well-exposed branch of the tree.
- Maintenance Maintenance: Renew pheromones every 3 to 4 weeks to maintain their effectiveness. Also regularly change the sticky plates to prevent them from becoming ineffective.
- Surveillance Monitoring: Control traps 1 to 3 times a week. If you capture between 1 and 6 butterflies, this is the signal to act quickly.
These traps not only reduce the reproduction of the carpocapse, but also monitor its presence in your orchard.
2.2 Fougère purine: A natural solution
When catches in traps increase, it is crucial to intervene to limit the proliferation of eggs and larvae. Fertle purine is a simple and effective solution:
Preparation of Purin
- Harve fresh fern leaves.
- Place them in a bucket of water for 10 to 15 days until the mixture starts to ferment.
- Then dilute the purine at a rate of 200 ml per litre of water.
- Add 10 ml of black soap to improve the adhesion of the mixture to the leaves.
Application
- Spray the puree directly onto the trees as soon as the first catches appear in the traps.
- Repeat the procedure every 7 to 10 days to ensure optimal protection.
This natural treatment helps to reduce eggs and larvae on trees, while being completely environmentally friendly.
2.3 Encouraging natural predators
A complementary approach is to favour natural predators of the carpocapse. Many birds and mammals help to regulate their population:
Insectivore bird nests
- Install nest boxes to attract species such as blue tit or snake tit, known for their appetite for insects.
- Choose shaded and secured locations to maximize their occupation.
Balds of mice
- Build or install bat shelters. These animals can capture up to several hundred insects per night, including carpocapse butterflies.
By encouraging these natural predators, you create a balanced ecosystem that can limit the spread of carpocapse.
2.4 Pick-up pick-up
A simple but essential gesture is to regularly pick up the fallen fruit on the ground. These damaged fruits may contain caterpillars or pups, which may continue their life cycle if left in place.
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