Natural Fruit trees pest control - Ask Extension
Pests are eating holes out of our fruit tree leaves. Is there a natural remedy to ward off these pests?
Knowledgebase
Natural Fruit trees pest control #642465
Asked May 28, 2020, 2:02 PM EDT
Pests are eating holes out of our fruit tree leaves. Is there a natural remedy to ward off these pests?
Marion County Oregon
Expert Response
Thank you for contacting us about your fruit trees. Can you please send a photo of the leaf damage? We will also need the following information to try to advise you:
- What type(s) of fruit trees are affected?
- How extensive is the damage? (What percentage of the tree leaves are affected?)
- Have you seen pests on the leaves? Can you provide a photo or a description?
- Is this the first year you have noticed the leaf damage?
Replied incorrect generating Question 642980 & 642990 Expert Neil Ball is there a way to connect with that reply info? Thank you, sorry I missed this option before!
Hi: two of the the pictures show what appears to be a fly, and the other one shows a hole chewed in the leaves. The fly would not be considered a problem. I can't recommend any specific control without a better idea of the extent of the feeding damage and the identity of the pest. I would continue to scout the tree and see if you can't find the cause of the damage in action. If it's very limited it might be best simply to pick off the culprit when found.
There are a number of organic insecticides registered for home use in Oregon, including azadirachtin (neem oil), Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.), kaolin clay, various plant-derived essential oils, pyrethrins and spinosad. Feel free to write with additional questions
