Abstract BACKGROUND: The possibility of improving the efficacy of various insecticides for codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), by the addition of a microencapsulated formulation of pear ester, ethyl (2 E , 4 Z )‐2,4‐decadienoate (PE‐MEC, 5% AI), was evaluated in field trials in apple from 2005 to 2009. RESULTS: The addition of PE‐MEC (<3.0 g AI ha −1 ) significantly lowered fruit injury with low rates of organophosphate and neonicotinoid insecticides. The addition of PE‐MEC (1.48 g AI ha −1 ) to maximum label rates of insecticides with moderate activity for codling moth, such as ebamectin benzoate, spinosad and methoxyfenozide, significantly improved their effectiveness. However, PE‐MEC did not consistently improve the activity of maximum label rates of either rynaxypyr or spinetoram. The addition of PE‐MEC with seasonal spray programs of acetamiprid and azinphos‐methyl in combination with the use of sex pheromones for mating disruption provided the most effective control. CONCLUSION: The addition of PE‐MEC can improve the effectiveness of some insecticides for codling moth in apple. Insecticides active via dermal toxicity are more strongly improved by the addition of PE‐MEC. Season‐long use of PE‐MEC can also augment the effectiveness of mating disruption. Adding PE‐MEC to variable integrated management programs for C. pomonella should be further investigated. Published 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.