Codling moths are one of the MOST destructive pests we battle when growing fruit. These moths lay eggs, and when the larvae hatch, they burrow into our apples—so we can’t pick them 💔 Thanks to M3 Ag Technologies, we can release sterile moths into our orchards weekly using drones. We’ve been doing this in our organic blocks for 5 years and rarely see damage anymore...a huge shift from when we used to be overwhelmed with it! These moths come from just over the border in Osoyoos, B.C. 🇨🇦 The OK Sterile Insect Release Lab kindly gave me a tour of their facility, and I was BLOWN AWAY by what goes into raising codling moths on this scale—up to 12 million insects per week! 🍔 Feeding the larvae & moths is a massive job... • Their diet includes vitamins, wheat germ, sugar, and sawdust to create the perfect environment for growth. • Red Calco powder is added to every tray—so in the field, scientists can identify whether a moth came from the lab or not! 🐛 The breeding, emerging, & rearing rooms are incredibly intricate... • Breeding (Oviposition) rooms simulate the perfect atmosphere for egg-laying, even mimicking twilight/evening when moths typically mate. • Emerging & rearing rooms control humidity levels at different stages, ensuring larvae develop properly into moths. • Not all insects make it through the process—and that’s okay! It helps remove weaker genetics from the colony. ⚡️ Once mature, the moths are collected & sterilized: • Black lights attract the moths, which are gently vacuumed up without harm. • They are kept cold to slow their movement, making handling easier. • A short burst of radiation (roughly 5 min) sterilizes them—preventing reproduction, but not harming the moths. 🍎🌳 Finally, after 6 weeks at the facility, the @m3agtech crew picks up the moths and releases them in orchards each week! The moths still live normal lives, ✨try✨ to reproduce, but can’t, which helps keep populations in check. I learned a TON, I hope you did too! Drop your questions in the comments, and check out my bio 🔗 if you’re interested in this service! 😊