Codling Moth vs African Citrus Psyllid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Codling Moth African Citrus Psyllid
Scientific Name Cydia pomonella Trioza erytreae
Order Lepidoptera Hemiptera
Family Tortricidae Triozidae
Size 14-22 mm wingspan 2-3 mm
Habitat Orchards Orchards
Diet Fruit Feeders Herbivores
Regions Worldwide (cosmopolitan) Sub-Saharan Africa, Madeira, Canary Islands, Iberian Peninsula (invasive)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Codling Moth

A small grey-brown moth whose larvae are the proverbial worm in the apple. It is the most economically important pest of apples worldwide.

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Did You Know?

It was one of the first insects to develop resistance to DDT in the 1940s.

African Citrus Psyllid

A small brownish psyllid that causes distinctive pit galls on citrus leaves. It vectors the African form of citrus greening disease and is expanding its range into Europe.

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Did You Know?

Unlike the Asian citrus psyllid, this species prefers cooler climates and has been detected in Portugal and Spain, threatening Mediterranean citrus production.