Spots On Your Apples

 

 

 

 

If you would like to not have spots on your apples and leave the birds and the bees this article may be just what you’re looking for. Apple Maggot, Rhagoletis pommonella, is a small fly that infests a variety of hosts including crab apple, apples, plum, hawthorn, and occasionally apricots. It has a wide range from North Eastern United States through to Southern Manitoba, Canada

The spots on your apples are created when the female of the species punctures the skin of the fruit laying her eggs. The eggs then hatch and burrow though the apples causing the characteristic traces or brown discolored tunnels in the flesh of the fruit. The plant often responds by dropping infected fruit. Once the fruit is dropped the larvae emerge and pupate in the soil under the host tree. Some fruit remains on the host until fall and larvae develop at a slower pace in these fruits. This leads to a long period of emergence for adults in t the following spring.

Adults emerge the following spring just after the apples have finished blooming and continue to emerge for the next two months. The insects are small flies, slightly smaller than a house fly with black bodies and distinctive black bands on their clear wings. They emerge sexually immature and take a week to 10 days to fully develop. While maturing they feed on honeydew secreted by aphids. Once mature they congregate and mate on fruit.

The female lays as many as 300 eggs in her 30 day life span.

Control of this pest is difficult due to the long period of adult emergence. Chemical controls can be effective if applied at the very end of the flowering period and every 10 days thereafter until the adults are no longer emerging. Time applications to begin after flowers start to loose petals and you will have minimal impact on pollinators such as bees. Horticultural oils can reduce the population of aphids and limit food sources for immature adults. Bright red plastic sticky apples and yellow paper sticky traps can be used to scout for the emergence of adults. Culturally, prompt removal of all dropped apples throughout the season helps to break the life cycle. Dropped apples should be disposed of sanitarily off site. Removing alternate hosts in wild adjacent areas will also help to reduce populations. 

If you have questions about apple maggot contact your I.S.A. Certified Arborist to see if you have this damaging plant pest.

I.S.A Certified Arborists are industry recognized experts in plant insect and diseases control.

Emerald Ash Borer Update 2012

   photo USDA                                                                     

Recent information has confirmed that Emerald Ash Borer has been found in Northern Dutchess County in South Eastern New York. Though not unexpected, it is a milestone to have confirmed its presence this side of the Hudson River.

Do you have a plan in place to protect your valuable Ash trees? Treating your Ash trees before this bug arrives has proven effective in protecting Ash trees from this deadly pest.

Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) was discovered in the Detroit region in 2002 but was likely established in that area in the mid 1990's. This small brilliantly green insect is from China, where it is a minor forest insect living on weakened Ash trees in its native forests. American Ash trees have no natural resistance and are excellent hosts to this pest. Once infested with this pest Ash trees decline and eventually die in 2 to 3 years. Small or stressed trees may die in one season. One mode of transport this beetle shares with other destructive pests is its ability to spread by hitchhiking on firewood.  Quarantines prohibiting the movement of firewood and raw wood products are in place or will be in place in many areas by years end. Efforts to eradicate the pest have been largely unsuccessful, leading one official to describe it as “cutting a hole in a doughnut". The beetles have often spread beyond the site of initial infestation by the time they are detected and treated.  Efforts are taking place to look for naturally resistant selections of Ash as well as locate natural predators that may reduce Emerald Ash Borer's destructive abilities. What can you as a home owner do to be prepared for this pest? If it has been detected in your area you will need to protect Ash trees you want to preserve.

First you will need to assess if you have Ash trees on your property and what the appropriate action you should take. If you have Ash trees and want to protect them, you should maintain the vigor of those trees with appropriate cultural measures. These may include fertilization, root stimulants and mulching. Once EAB is close to your area, there are proven systemic treatments that can prevent infestation by EAB. Preparation and prevention are your best defenses against Emerald Ash Borer damage. The chart below estimates the risk to your ash trees posed by EAB and can be described as follows:

0-5 miles from a known EAB site-                  Extreme Risk,

5-10 miles from an EAB site                           High Risk,

10 miles and greater from an EAB site            Elevated Risk.

If you are in an area that is at elevated risk you should be developing a plan with the help of your ISA Certified Arborist. Take the time to contact your ISA Certified Arborist today and have your property accessed for the potential impact of Emerald Ash Borer. Panic is pointless, preparation is priceless.