Pest Photo

Hanna Royals, Screening Aids, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org

Avocado seed moth

Stenoma catenifer

Avocado seed moth (Stenoma catenifer) is an insect pest of avocado fruit. It is a native of Neotropics.

Mated females lay eggs on ripening fruit and subsequent tunneling and feeding by the developing larvae causes damage to the seed and fruit. Larvae may also feed and develop within small branches of fruit trees. This is considered the most damaging pest of avocado production worldwide and limits production in many countries. Not currently found in North America, but fruit production and transportation increases the risk that infestation may occur.

For more information about this plant pest, see the CAPS data sheet.