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First codling moth flight of 2026 detected in Latah County
General Landscape and Garden Northern Idaho
Codling Moth
Posted on: May 8, 2026 by Samuel DeGrey
Multiple codling moths were captured in a monitoring trap in Moscow, Latah County, Idaho on May 6th, 2026.
The first detected flight date of May 6th will serve as the biofix, or the date where we begin accumulating degree days, for Moscow, Idaho. Degree days provide an estimate for life cycle stages of insect pests, and can be a tool to better time management decisions for farmers, horticultural professionals, and gardeners.
Please visit our degree day dashboard to track degree days for codling moth in Moscow - https://pnwpestalert.net/gdd/index
Please consult the Pacific Northwest Pest Management handbook for degree-day based management recommendations for codling moth - https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/tree-fruit/apple/apple-codling-moth .
First apple codling moth flight of 2026 detected in Ada County
All Crops Eastern Idaho, Magic Valley, Treasure Valley, Treasure Valley - Idaho, Northern Idaho, Treasure Valley Oregon
Codling Moth
Posted on: May 8, 2026 by Sierra Laverty
First apple codling moth flight of 2026 detected in Ada County
Multiple codling moths were captured in a monitoring trap at Spaulding Ranch in Boise, Ada County, Idaho on May 1st, 2026.
May 1st will serve as the biofix for codling moth at the trapping site. Biofix is a specific, biological event used as a starting date for estimating the timeline of an insect’s lifecycle. An insect’s lifecycle is estimated using degree days (DD), which are units that measure how cold or warm an area is over time, based on if the average temperature is one degree above or below a specific base temperature. Adult codling moths were detected at 170 DD in Ada County. Please note that microclimates in the Treasure Valley are highly variable and your particular site may be colder or warmer than the monitoring site at Spaulding Ranch.
Management actions:
Thin fruit clusters to one fruit to reduce contact points between fruits now
Apply coverage insecticide sprays at 250 accumulated DD since May 1st or 420 total DD since January 1st. Another alert will be posted through PNW Pest Alert Network at that time.
To track degree days in the Treasure Valley, visit our website: https://pnwpestalert.net/gdd/index
Please consult the Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbook for degree-day based management recommendations for codling moth: https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/tree-fruit/apple/apple-codling-moth
What is codling moth? Codling moth is a key insect pest of apples and pears in Idaho. Left unmanaged, it can cause "wormy" fruit and significant crop loss.
Identification – Know the Signs & Symptoms
Symptoms on Fruit:
Small, dark entry holes ("sting") on the apple surface.
Frass (sawdust-like excrement) near the hole.
Tunnels inside the fruit leading to the core.
Premature fruit drop in severe infestations.
Current Monitoring & Degree Days:
Biofix (first moths detected): May 1
Current Degree Days (base 50°F): 262 DD as of May 8
Egg hatch begins: 220-250 DD
Management Options
Non-Chemical Options
Fruit thinning: Thin clusters to one fruit to reduce contact points between fruits.
Fruit Bagging: Bag individual fruits to block larvae entry.
Sanitation: Remove dropped fruit and prune trees to reduce overwintering sites.
Coverage Insecticide Sprays
When: Apply at 250 DD after biofix (420 DD total since January 1st, based on 2026 monitoring)
Action: Apply insecticides to kill newly hatched larvae before they burrow into fruit.
For insecticide options: https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/tree-fruit/apple/apple-codling-moth
All pesticides, including least-toxic alternatives, have benefits and potential hazards. You must read and follow the pesticide label for specific directions, paying close attention to the directions for use and application rates. Inconsistent use of a product or disregarding the label is a violation of both state and federal laws.
For season-long control: Codling moth has multiple generations per season. Continue monitoring traps and tracking degree days to time follow-up sprays and other control measures.
For more assistance, contact your local University of Idaho Extension office: https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/directory/counties
» https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/tree-fruit/apple/apple-codling-moth
» https://climate.usu.edu/includes/pestFactSheets/Codling-Moth.pdf
» https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/codling-moth-control-in-home-plantings-5-613/
Codling Moth Detected in Traps in Boise
General Landscape and Garden Treasure Valley, Treasure Valley - Idaho
Codling Moth
Posted on: May 8, 2026 by Sierra Laverty
First apple codling moth flight of 2026 detected in Ada County
Multiple codling moths were captured in a monitoring trap at Spaulding Ranch in Boise, Ada County, Idaho on May 1st, 2026.
May 1st will serve as the biofix for codling moth at the trapping site. Biofix is a specific, biological event used as a starting date for estimating the timeline of an insect’s lifecycle. An insect’s lifecycle is estimated using degree days (DD), which are units that measure how cold or warm an area is over time, based on if the average temperature is one degree above or below a specific base temperature. Adult codling moths were detected at 170 DD in Ada County. Please note that microclimates in the Treasure Valley are highly variable and your particular site may be colder or warmer than the monitoring site at Spaulding Ranch.
Management actions:
Thin fruit clusters to one fruit to reduce contact points between fruits now
Apply coverage insecticide sprays at 250 accumulated DD since May 1st or 420 total DD since January 1st. Another alert will be posted through PNW Pest Alert Network at that time.
To track degree days in the Treasure Valley, visit our website: https://pnwpestalert.net/gdd/index
Please consult the Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbook for degree-day based management recommendations for codling moth: https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/tree-fruit/apple/apple-codling-moth
What is codling moth? Codling moth is a key insect pest of apples and pears in Idaho. Left unmanaged, it can cause "wormy" fruit and significant crop loss.
Identification – Know the Signs & Symptoms
Symptoms on Fruit:
Small, dark entry holes ("sting") on the apple surface.
Frass (sawdust-like excrement) near the hole.
Tunnels inside the fruit leading to the core.
Premature fruit drop in severe infestations.
Current Monitoring & Degree Days:
Biofix (first moths detected): May 1
Current Degree Days (base 50°F): 262 DD as of May 8
Egg hatch begins: 220-250 DD
Management Options
Non-Chemical Options
Fruit thinning: Thin clusters to one fruit to reduce contact points between fruits.
Fruit Bagging: Bag individual fruits to block larvae entry.
Sanitation: Remove dropped fruit and prune trees to reduce overwintering sites.
Coverage Insecticide Sprays
When: Apply at 250 DD after biofix (420 DD total since January 1st, based on 2026 monitoring)
Action: Apply insecticides to kill newly hatched larvae before they burrow into fruit.
For insecticide options: https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/tree-fruit/apple/apple-codling-moth
All pesticides, including least-toxic alternatives, have benefits and potential hazards. You must read and follow the pesticide label for specific directions, paying close attention to the directions for use and application rates. Inconsistent use of a product or disregarding the label is a violation of both state and federal laws.
For season-long control: Codling moth has multiple generations per season. Continue monitoring traps and tracking degree days to time follow-up sprays and other control measures.
For more assistance, contact your local University of Idaho Extension office: https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/directory/counties
» https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/tree-fruit/apple/apple-codling-moth
» https://climate.usu.edu/includes/pestFactSheets/Codling-Moth.pdf
» https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/codling-moth-control-in-home-plantings-5-613/
2026 Snake River Weed Management Field Tour
All Crops All Locations
Posted on: May 6, 2026 by Russel Smith-Ollivierre
Mark your calendar for Thursday, June 11, 2026, and join us
at the Malheur Experiment Station for the first stop of the Snake River Weed
Research Tour.
This annual Field Day highlights ongoing weed management
research across the Treasure Valley of eastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho,
with a focus on key crops such as onion and sugar beet. This year’s program
also includes biofumigation cover crop trials. Walk the fields, see results
firsthand, and connect with OSU scientists and staff.
Attendees may receive up to three pesticide credits for
Oregon and Idaho.
Event Schedule
Location: Malheur Experiment Station, 595 Onion Ave,
Ontario, OR
Registration: 8:00–9:00 AM
Tour: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Lunch: Provided at noon
The event is free and open to all, but please RSVP to ensure
adequate lunch.
RSVP & Information
Jan Jones
541-889-2174
janet.jones@oregonstate.edu
Western Conifer Seed Bug capable of damaging PEX plumbing lines
General Landscape and Garden Northern Idaho
Western Conifer Seed Bug
Posted on: May 1, 2026 by Samuel DeGrey
Western Conifer Seed Bugs (Leptoglossus occidentalis,
often incorrectly referred to as "stink bugs" or "pine
beetles") are one of the west's most commonly encountered insect species.
While generally considered a mere nuisance due to the species' habit of
overwintering in human structures, western conifer seed bugs are actually
capable of damaging cross-linked polyethylene tubing (PEX) used in indoor
plumbing in many homes. When overwintering seed bugs are trapped indoors for
long periods of time during the colder months, they may attempt to
"taste" random objects with their piercing-sucking mouthparts, which
can cause leaks in the soft plastic when they pierce through the PEX line. See linked publication for further information, including on how to distinguish
western conifer seed bug damage from other forms of damage to plumbing lines.
Plastic outdoor irrigation line is unlikely to be at risk from seed bug
damage.
Homeowners have confirmed Western Conifer Seed Bug damage to
PEX plumbing line in Bonner County, Idaho in 2026. Years with increased seed
bug populations may represent higher risk of damage to pipelines. The end of
the colder months may represent a good time to inspect any indoor PEX line for
seed bug damage.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/5D1C0B6A542A427186A697E39B9C92D0/S0008347X00002807a.pdf/damage-to-common-plumbing-materials-caused-by-overwintering-leptoglossus-occidentalis-hemiptera-coreidae.pdf
Ag Talk Tuesday resumes for the 2026 season
All Crops All Locations
Posted on: May 1, 2026 by Kasia Duellman
Save the Date: Ag Talk Tuesday – 2026 Season
Please mark your calendars for the 2026 season of Ag Talk Tuesday, hosted by the University of Idaho Extension. Sessions will be held from 11:00 AM to Noon (MDT) on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, May through August.
We’ll kick off the season on May 5 with a water update.
Each Ag Talk Tuesday session begins with approximately 30 minutes of informal crop reports led by UI Extension personnel. All attendees are encouraged to participate and share observations or updates. The second half of the session features a more structured presentation on a timely agricultural topic, delivered by a guest speaker. An Ag Talk Tuesday organizer facilitates each session to guide discussion, gather crop updates, and moderate questions for the featured presentation.
Registration is free but required.
To register, please visit the Ag Talk Tuesday website:
https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/events/ag-talk
Or register directly using this link:
https://uidaho.zoom.us/meeting/register/xJRvquC7T66Czb_qpW0A_A#/registration
We hope you can join us for a productive and informative season of Ag Talk Tuesday!
Sincerely,
Your Ag Talk Tuesday Organizers
Emily Bedwell (ebedwell@uidaho.edu)
Kasia Duellman (kduellman@uidaho.edu)
Doug Finkelnburg (dougf@uidaho.edu)
Juliet Marshall (jmarshall@uidaho.edu)
