Pea moth
A small brown moth whose pale caterpillars feed on the seeds inside pea pods, spoiling the crop.
Also known as: Pea maggot
Symptoms and identification
Pods look normal from the outside, but when opened, the peas are eaten and mixed with frass and webbing. A cream-coloured caterpillar with a black head, about 10 mm long, is inside the pod.
Causes
The moths fly and lay eggs on pea plants in flower and young pod stage, mostly from early to midsummer. Larvae bore into the pod, feed for about 3 weeks and then drop to the soil to overwinter.
Organic treatment
Pick and discard infested pods. Spray a product with pyrethrin or Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) a week after the first moths are trapped, following the label.
Prevention
Sow early or late so that plants flower before or after the egg-laying period, and cover plants with fine mesh during flowering. Rotate crops and use pheromone traps to time protection.
Chemical treatment (use with care)
Use an insecticide labelled for pea moth, applied at flowering and just after, as the label directs.