What Are Carnation Tortrix Caterpillars? The Carnation Tortrix Caterpillars are a regular pest of ornamental plants and will attach a wide range of herbaceous plants and shrubs. The caterpillars feed on the upper surface of leaves, making holes and turning the leaves brown. Identifying Carnation Tortrix Caterpillars & Moths Carnation Tortrix Caterpillars are pale green with brown heads, and can grow up to 20mm in length. As the caterpillars get larger they wrap leaves around their bodies and will hide in the rolled leaf. If disturbed the caterpillars will wriggle and move backwards, they can also drop from leaves on silken webs. The Carnation Moth is small with a wingspan of 15-25mm. The wings are folded horizontally over the body and are brown in colour with orange hindwings. Each female can lay up to 700 eggs. These are laid in batches on the upper surfaces of leaves. There can be several generations of moth each year and this can continue at any time in the year if they are attacking plants growing in heated glass. How Does This Trap Help Combat Tortrix Moths? Our Carnation Tortrix Moth Pheromone Traps catch and kill adult male Tortrix Moths. The trap utilises a species specific pheromone. Adult male moths will be attracted to the scent and fly inside the trap through the holes on the side, drop down, and become trapped. Moth mating and egg laying will be reduced as a result, and future generations of caterpillars will be prevented from developing. Moth populations can also be monitored through this trap which will help provide you with an early warning as to their activity. Each trap is supplied with two pheromone lures. Each lure is active for a minimum of 6 weeks. Each trap is also supplied with a sticky card to place in the bottom of the trap, this helps retain moths in the trap. How Do I Set Up The Lures Inside The trap? Each lure is supplied in a foil sachet. Remove the lure from the sachet and place it in the lure cage at the top of the trap. Additional lures may be stored in a fridge or freezer. Full instructions are provided on delivery. Will The Trap Catch The Caterpillars? No, this trap will only attract and kill the adult male moths. Our traps are environmentally friendly and no threat to small birds. How Long Do The Traps Last? The trap can be used for years and replacement lures can be purchased for additional coverage. Each trap comes with two pheromone lures, each of which last up to 6 weeks, giving the trap an initial 12-week protection. Replacement lures can be purchased separately. If you require replacement lures, you can find these here. Replacement sticky cards can be purchased here. Replacement small parts for this trap can be found here. When Should I Use The Trap? For external use, the trap should be placed outside from May onwards. For internal use, the trap can be used all year round.
