Having fruit trees in your orchard and/or garden is wonderful, as you have the opportunity to enjoy the authentic flavour of food, as long as you use natural products to care for them, of course . But no matter how much you pamper them, sometimes parasitic insects appear, and if we do nothing to prevent it, they can weaken them too much.
If we take this into account, it is very important to know what are the pests of the apple tree, one of the most cultivated trees for its beauty but above all for its fruit.
The apple tree is, in general, a very resistant fruit tree, but when the climate is rather dry and / or warm, or it does not receive the necessary care, some insects will take advantage of its weakness to do more damage to it. Which are? These:
Mites
Specifically, mites of the species Panonychus ulmi y Tetranychus urticae (Red spider). They are very small, about 0,5cm, so to see them well it is necessary to use a magnifying glass. These insects they feed on the cells of the leaves, where discolored spots and sometimes fine cobwebs appear. For proper control, it is advisable to consult Tips and recommendations on pest fumigation and apply ecological treatments, such as potassium soap, for its control.
carcocapsa
It is a moth whose scientific name is Cydia pomonella. In the adult state it is not harmful, but their larvae feed on the pulp of the fruits, and can cause the entire crop to be lost. To prevent their attack, it is advisable to consult How to treat apple tree mottling and apply preventative treatments with insecticidal oil (available for purchase) in early spring. You can also consult specific care according to your area to avoid its incidence.
Fruitfly
La fruit fly, belonging to the species Ceratitis capitata, It is the typical insect that takes advantage of any crack, even if it is tiny and almost invisible to us, to leave its eggs there that hatch quickly. Once they do, they feed on the pulp. To prevent their presence, preventative treatments with insecticidal oil are also highly recommended. Furthermore, controlling potential wounds on the fruit helps reduce their incidence.
San Jose louse
Image - EPPO
It is an insect known by the scientific name Quadraspidiotus perniciosus and the common San José louse. In its adult phase it is like a small blackish-brown shield with rounded shape attached to branches, leaves and fruits, from where it feeds. For control, it is recommended to consult What are suckers on trees? and apply diatomaceous earth (available for purchase), which pierces their shell, causing death by dehydration. It may also be helpful to consult fruit trees and common pests.
