Italian Plum Worms - Ask Extension
This is the first year I have had any pest on my Italian Plum Tree. The tiny white worms are in almost every plum on the tree and the ones in the pic...
Knowledgebase
Italian Plum Worms #209852
Asked August 30, 2014, 3:06 PM EDT
This is the first year I have had any pest on my Italian Plum Tree. The tiny white worms are in almost every plum on the tree and the ones in the picture were taken off the tree a week ago. The tree has otherwise been healthy and we use no sprays in our yard at all. It looks like the thing on the plum is a shell attached only at the one end with maybe fangs into the plum at that spot.
However, I picked some plums that were not near ripe & many appear to not have the tiny worm in it. Can you help me with this situation? Thanks, Patti
However, I picked some plums that were not near ripe & many appear to not have the tiny worm in it. Can you help me with this situation? Thanks, Patti
Benton County Oregon
Expert Response
I think there's two different things at work here. The tiny worms inside the fruit could be either one of the moth larvae pests such as codling moth, or the spotted wing drosophila fly (maggots). The Benton county Extension office should have spray guides for both pests.
The structure attached to the outside looks like a cast skin or pupal case of some kind, but I can't see enough detail to be certain. It is not related to the worms inside the fruit. Do you every see more than one of these attached to a single plum?
The structure attached to the outside looks like a cast skin or pupal case of some kind, but I can't see enough detail to be certain. It is not related to the worms inside the fruit. Do you every see more than one of these attached to a single plum?
There is only one skeleton attached to any one plum..no more. I have those four in a jar because I
thought they also had the worms. Would it help for you to see them in person?
In these pics, there is a white mold growing on the shell.
thought they also had the worms. Would it help for you to see them in person?
In these pics, there is a white mold growing on the shell.
I'm sure these are not related to the worms that are inside but I'm not certain what they are. They still look like cast skins (exuvae) or pupal cases. If you take the sample to the Benton Co. Extension office they will send it to OSU for id at the Insect Clinic. I won't see it but someone there will be able to help.
