Advice
RHS Help & Advice
Grease bands
Mottled umber moth (Erannis defoliaria),
winter moth (Operophtera brumata) and
March moth (Alsophila aescularia) have
wingless females which, after emerging from the pupal or chrysalis
stage in the soil, must climb the tree to mate and lay their
eggs. The caterpillars of these moths eat the leaves of many
deciduous trees and shrubs during late March and early June.
Grease bands trap some of the wingless females before they
reach the branches. Winter moth (see photograph below) is
the most important of these moths and it emerges as adults
during November to mid-January.
Grease bands are mainly used to protect fruit trees, such as apple, plum, pear and cherry. Note that sticky barriers give no protection against codling moth, the cause of maggoty apples. That pest has winged females that are active in midsummer.
Timing
Grease bands should be placed on trunks and tree stakes about 45cm (18in) above soil level in late October, before the adults begin to emerge in November. Moth activity declines after January but as some species with wingless females are active until April, grease may need to be reapplied from time to time.
Products
For smooth-barked young trees, use ready-prepared sticky papers (Bayer Boltac Greasebands, Growing Success Glue Band Traps or Agralan Glue Bands). For older trees with fissured bark, apply grease directly onto the bark (Vitax Fruit Tree Grease or Agralan Insect Barrier Glue).