THIS is the face of the codling moth - the nemesis of the traditional English apple, which looks to have met its match in a small Hampshire company.

Colden Common-based pest control firm Exosect has teamed up with apple growers and supermarket giant Sainsbury's to tackle the moth and boost production of organic English apples in an orchard in Kent.

Exosect's pioneering technology, which was developed at Southampton University, uses natural insect hormones to confuse the moths and prevent them mating.

The moths, whose maggots destroy apples from the inside, are covered by pheromones in special Exosect traps, overwhelming their senses and leaving them unable to find the opposite sex.

Currently just three per cent of organic apples sold in the UK are British grown but with these new techniques, growers hope to be able to bring this amount to more than 70 per cent.

Similar Exosect technology was used by the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, which was plagued by moths eating valuable costumes.

Exosect's Georgia Kemp said: "We are delighted to be involved with Britain's first Organic Concept Orchard, providing the technology that will reduce the need for pesticides.

The growth in demand for both organic and locally produced produce has created a huge challenge for growers and suppliers alike, but both parties are rising to that challenge and it is great news that we as a UK-based company are assisting UK growers."