Pea Moth

Small brown-grey moth; cream caterpillar with a dark head found feeding inside pea pods.

Single generation per year in most regions; moths fly and lay eggs on pods when peas are flowering, larvae overwinter as cocoons in soil.

Larvae feed on developing peas inside the pod, leaving them holed, partially eaten, and contaminated with droppings.

There is no rescue treatment once larvae are inside pods; harvest and check crops early, discarding infested pods.

Sow early or late to avoid peak moth flight during flowering, or cover crops with fine mesh during that window.