Apple and other fruit tree magot problem.

[Spoons]

Just been to see a customer about their fruits trees. 80-90% of fruit on most of their trees infected with maggots inside them. They said last year 2 of the trees had a white fur on them which im assuming will be Wooly Aphid by their description. Also last year she said they could see something that looking like 2ladybirds joined as one on the trees. They have a chicken coop next to the main fruit trees if that makes a difference. Any help be much appreciated.

 

Ross.

[agg221]

No real connection between the problems.

 

Two ladybirds joined is probably either mating or just a lot of them. Ladybirds eat the aphids, therefore they are a good thing.

 

White fur is, as you suggest, probably woolly aphid. Spraying with soft soap in water is not a legal treatment, but if they like to keep their trees well washed.....

 

Maggots will be codlin moth, which although only starting to be obvious now will have laid their eggs just at blossom drop. Nothing that can be done this year, other than collecting up the fruit to remove as many as possible, but as the fruit starts to ripen the ones which look brighter and more yellow than green first are usually the infected ones. Picking them off helps reduce numbers. The main treatment though would be to put up pheromone traps next year at blossom time, about one trap to six trees. This will attract the males and trap them on the sticky base. It won't eliminate every maggot but will make a big impact and the following year will be even more effective as the numbers start to reduce.

 

Chickens are good - they eat a lot of the overwintering grubs in the soil - moving the coop around under the base of each tree in turn is a good idea.

 

Alec

[Gollum]

Could also be tortrix moth damage.