Monitoring (Blastobasis moth)

Beating for adults
Unlike most moths, adult Blastobasis can be sampled using the beating method, as when dislodged from the vegetation they do not fly but fall onto the beating tray, where they either lie still or scuttle around on their backs.

• Beating should be used to determine the flight period.
• For each beat sample, a sharp tap should be made to a branch with a beater over a beating tray.
• No economic thresholds have been developed but presence of the moth is probably sufficient to justify the application of insecticide treatment.

Fruit damage
Inspecting fruits for damage, either whilst developing on the tree, windfalls, at harvest, or during grading (remembering that badly damaged fruit may have been discarded at harvest), indicates if the pest has been present and whether treatment is likely to be required the next season.

Pheromone traps
The sex pheromone of Blastobasis has been partially identified by East Malling Research and Natural Resources Institute. Attractive lures have not yet been developed.