Preparing an orchard for winter has become a very important activity for all gardeners and summer residents, which must necessarily be carried out during the autumn period in order to create the most favorable and protected conditions for fruit trees and their successful wintering.
This is especially true for stone fruit trees, which are most susceptible to the harsh northern conditions of winter. But not only frost and piercing winds should be feared when preparing the garden for the winter.
In winter, some of the insects, which we more often call pests, plan to feed them with their juices. One of the most dangerous pests of the orchard is the winter moth, about measures to combat which we will discuss in this article.
Description
So, our conversation will go about the moth of winter, which was included in the composition of butterflies from the family of moths. Its distinctive features are, above all, the red-gray color, which is difficult to confuse with any other subspecies of the insect class.
The wings of the males can reach 3 centimeters in scope, while having several rounded edges. In females, the wings are more pointed and small, and the scope sometimes reaches 2 centimeters.
Like many insects, among the moths, they are also larger in size than the females (namely, in the body mass), and the color is brighter in the more miniature males (they also have more developed wings, but are significantly smaller in weight than the females). 
Until mid-December, such a butterfly still actively flies, choosing the future wintering place in the orchard. If we talk about the caterpillar itself, it has a very bright, even intense lime color with a darker green head. Along the sides of such a caterpillar there are yellow stripes, like a edging.
In length, these pests can reach 2 centimeters. After hibernation, they are activated from the moment of the beginning of sap flow and the appearance of the first young leaves on fruit bearing crops. Until June, they successfully destroy the leafy cover of trees, after which they pupate in the ground, turning into butterflies.
The cruciferous flea beetles, May beetles, ants, kitsyaks, bark beetles, medars, rapeseed beetles, cycadas, weevils, Colorado beetles, collembolos, thrips also bring great harm.
Life cycle
It is known that for the successful conduct of hostilities and the victory over the enemy, it is necessary to know as much information as possible about him, his habits and his life cycle. 
Similar rules can be applied in the case of the fight with the winter moth. Next, we will examine the differences in the life cycle of the males and female butterflies, as well as the caterpillars and pupae of the moth winter.
Butterflies
The most common pest class moth in the areas of forest-steppe, woodland and steppe. Such a distribution is determined by the weather and climatic conditions necessary for the successful survival of the species. Butterflies moth winter, like other insects and living creatures, are divided into male and female individuals.
Females
Female moths moth winter differ slightly in size from the males. Also, their differences are determined by the color of the wings and their shape. At a temperature of + 10-15 ° C, they feel excellent and calmly withstand autumn and winter temperature changes. Males and females can continue to live up to temperatures of -15 ° C. 
Did you know? An interesting feature of the winter moth females is that they are not able to fly, even with wings. They simply climb trees along branches, where they mate with males. Next, the female lays the testicles in the cracks of the bark near the kidneys and young shoots. At one time, the female can lay up to 300 eggs.
Males
A bit smaller. Their wings are of a brighter shade with an admixture of red streaks on a gray velvety surface. Unlike females, they can fly freely, moving from tree to tree and producing a multitude of mating acts to increase the population of the genus.
Testicles
It is in the testicular stage that the moth overwinter. As such, it maintains vital functions up to record temperatures of -20-25 ° C. She is not afraid of any strong northerly winds or severe frosts and sudden changes in temperature. This amazing creature, capable of self-preservation, even in such unimaginable conditions. 
Hibernate eggs on the shoots at the base of the kidneys. The development of the embryo occurs in the fall and continues in the spring with some interruption in the winter, when the larvae literally freeze, and when the onset of heat thaws and finishes its life cycle.
Did you know? Embryos that are not affected by temperatures below 0 ° C cannot complete development. It is because of this peculiarity that the moth of the winter moth does not extend beyond the steppe zone, since if winter is warm, they will not be able to hatch in spring.
Caterpillars
In April, caterpillars hatch from the testicles. At first, their size does not exceed a few millimeters and it is almost impossible to see them by eye. Over time, they grow to 2 centimeters and in June turn into full-fledged caterpillars, because of the all-consuming activity of which trees and lose their foliage. 
The most favorable conditions for their development is a temperature of + 20 ° C and high humidity. With the help of the web, the moth links the leaves together, successfully crossing over from one feeding place to another.
Pupae
At the end of June, the caterpillars of the winter moth larvae descend from the branches of the trees to the ground and dug 10-13 centimeters deep into the ground for pupation. Only by September, they again see the sunlight, turning into butterflies.
Harm
Due to the high activity in the spring-autumn period of the winter moth all fruit and some deciduous crops are affected. Often you can find trees in the garden, where only the veins are left of the leaves, and the whole green core is eaten away to the last shred.
The winter moth is merciless also to the young shoots, penetrating into their porous-fibrous structure and destroying the new process in the early stage of growth and development. But her anti-services do not end there. The insect penetrates inside the flower bud, eats away its core, and then eats up the petals. Because of this activity, your fruit trees in the garden will simply be unable to bear fruit.
Important! The difficulty in determining whether a tree is struck by a peppered moth (until the moment when the foliage is still on the tree) is that it is almost impossible to see the tiny caterpillar of this pest with the naked eye (this is possible only if you look at the affected leaf or flower for a long time and notice slight movement fine larvae). Therefore, in view of such a wide range of possible damaging effects of the caterpillars of the insect, it is necessary to timely produce preventive measures to control pests.
What species of garden trees damages
But before turning to the methods of warfare with the moth of winter, let's find out what species of garden trees are susceptible to the caterpillars of this insect. 
Thus, the most frequently affected by this pest of fruit trees are:
- apple trees;
- pears;
- plums;
- apricots;
- cherries;
- sweet cherries;
- cherry plum;
- peaches;
- mulberry.
- oak;
- maple;
- nut;
- Linden;
- sea buckthorn;
- viburnum;
- black and red currants;
- dogwood;
- chestnut;
- and many others.
Winter moth does not neglect any type of fruit and deciduous trees. As can be seen from the list above, the larvae and caterpillars of this insect can also be found on shrubs.
Pest Control and Prevention
Timely implementation of preventive measures and a quick response to the manifestation of infection of the leaf cover on the tree will allow you to protect and preserve your garden, and to collect the long-awaited fruit harvest without loss in the autumn. After all, if the moth leaves the core, the flower will not ovary, which means partial or complete loss of the crop.
The most effective measures to prevent and combat this harmful insect are as follows:
- In the autumn, dig the ground around the tree trunks at least 2 meters in diameter. Thus, you will destroy the pupae caterpillars hiding in the soil and deal a serious blow to the pest.
- Before the beginning of the growing season (i.e. in early spring), trees with not yet fully budded buds should be sprayed with special solutions of DNOC or oleocuprite (Olecucrit is a broad-spectrum drug that causes significant harm not only to the moth, but also to a number of other pests of fruit trees).
A good alternative to these tools will be the drug number 30, which can be found in specialized stores gardeners. - Until the moment when the trees bloom, should be sprayed antio or karbofosom.
- When the last surviving larvae have passed hatching after previous processing steps (in mid-April), it is necessary to inflict a third blow by spraying with insecticides.
- In addition to autumn digging, it is also necessary to produce early spring plowing of the soil until the butterflies come out (in the middle of December, the peppered moths burrow into the ground, and therefore they must also be destroyed).
A good alternative to these tools will be the drug number 30, which can be found in specialized stores gardeners.Important! The main fight against the caterpillars of butterflies that damage the leaves, with the help of insecticides, is carried out from the moment of bud break until the appearance of buds. To do this, use the drug "Karbofos" (60 g per 10 liters of water). Against caterpillars, skeletonizing the surface of the leaves, effective "Spark - double effect or sparkle gold.
It will be useful for you to read about what and how to make a fishing belt.
Since the winter moth females are not able to fly, they climb branches along tree trunks. Thus, the female butterflies will be forced to go through the adhesive tapes and get stuck on them. To stick such Velcro should be at the end of the summer (approximately from mid-August). In the fall, such a protective sticky ring can be removed and burned together with fallen leaves.
One of the main opponents of the moth is the starlings. So equip your garden with several birdhouses and attract these birds with food.
If several broods of starlings live in your garden, then we can assume that insects and pests will be finished (or, in any case, the extent of damage from the moth activities will be significantly less). 
Also an interesting way to control the number of this type of harmful insects is to use special adhesive trap belts. Such a device is located on the trunks of fruit trees throughout your garden.
We advise you to read about how to deal with such pests, such as cabbage soup, locust, wasp, moth, gold-eyed.
The surprisingly diverse world of the fauna presents gardeners with many inconveniences in the form of a wide variety of insects and pests. Each of them lovers of gardening work tirelessly to keep and protect their pets in the front gardens.
And now, guided by the tips and rules given in our article, you will be able to protect your fruit and leafy garden from pest infestation. Insects will not be able to cause significant damage to fruit crops, and you in the fall will collect the long-awaited harvest.
