Lidl apple trees, something eating leaves, black flies?

shefra · Hawthorn Tree Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 50

Planted three apple trees, bare rooted from Lidl at easter, coming on fine, had blooms, just spotted something eating leaves, saw black like fruit flies around leaves, what should I do?

inishindie · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 5:23 pm Post subject:

Hi Shefra.

Are these flies actually on the leaves as well?

Have a look to see if there are any pests taking permanant residence on the leaves. If so you could probably squish them as the tree is still small enough to do this. (unless you think the pests deserve to live)

Check if the leaves of other plants nearby are being eaten as well for me.

Could you describe what sort of chew marks are on the leaves.

Ian
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shefra · Hawthorn Tree Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 50

inishindi the flies are on the leaves, smallish with a redish colour on main body, saw a minutish bug that took off when I checked, now not to sure but it looks like buds of apple growing , is that possible so soon?

inishindie · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:17 pm Post subject:

Hi Shefra

I thought that they might be beetle damage as there are a lot of them around at the moment. My mother in law has a small tree that has small friut on the branches the size of marbles (her gooseberries are nearly ready too!) so this would cancel out the apple blossom weevil as they attack the buds, so you are lucky there that the fruit is still OK.

Are the chew marks on the edge of the leaf or on the inside? and is it near a veggie patch?

By the time I've identified it they will have gone into hibernation!

Ian
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shefra · Hawthorn Tree Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 50

Chew marks on edges and all the way up centre of some leaves. No vegi patch, just yet. Ditches and ash trees.

inishindie · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 8:50 pm Post subject: chew marks on leaves

Hi again Shefra.

Without seeing a photo I would guess (and it is only a guess!) that it was the leaf weevil. These are the metallic green or brown beetles that are out in force at the moment. Control isn't really necessary as they are not around for long. The fruit sounds intact as well so I think your tree will pick up in no time

Cheers

Ian
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shefra · Hawthorn Tree Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 50

Thanks for info inishindie, will keep an eye on them.