This image has become the icon for the Natura Morta exhibition contrasting the brilliance of the shiny red apple with the damage hidden within. Zeck has deliberately drawn the apple upside down to show the point of entry of the young caterpillars through the calyx end of the apple. As with most of his paintings, he has included close-up views of the stages of the life cycle as well as showing the same stages in more natural poses on the plant. 

The codling moth was one of the major pests of apples and other pome fruits requiring control through application of poisonous pesticides. However, today, populations of this species are controlled using pheromone disruption of mating and pesticide use in orchards has been greatly reduced – to the benefit of growers, consumers and the environment.