Last year was a relatively cool spring and early summer (never got above 90 until late July). By this time Fuji, Terry Winter, and many other varieties were riddled with codling moth and fireblight was going to town.

This year it got over 100 by April, and we've had several bouts of 108 degree weather. I've seen only four apples with codling moth, and fireblight has been non-existant since the end of May (we still have the full quota of borers, however).

So where did the codling moth go? In our mild climate there should be multiple generations, even spanning the winter. Can the heat affect them that much? Come to think of it, until last year I had not seen much of them down here in the valley (the mountains are full of them). I know the heat knocks down the fireblight for sure.

If dry heat indeed hurts the codling moth, I guess a hot climate is healthy for apples. I'll take the occasional sunburnt apple to codling moth any day.

Applenut