Apple Maggots? - Ask Extension
I think that I have apple maggots in my honey crisp and zestar apples. I have put out two round balls per tree with tanglefoot on them and it is attra...
Knowledgebase
Apple Maggots? #799609
Asked July 05, 2022, 10:04 PM EDT
I think that I have apple maggots in my honey crisp and zestar apples. I have put out two round balls per tree with tanglefoot on them and it is attracting many flies. I had apple maggots in the honey crisp two years ago and had to throw away appropriate 200+ apples. Last year we did not get any apples on that tree. What else can I do to prevent them. Baggings seems impossible with how high and how many there are. I'm concerned about the pesticides in spraying, but feel like my that may be my only option. Spray vs throw away all the apples?
Is there a spray that you would recommend, or is there another way to get rid of this?
Crow Wing County Minnesota
Expert Response
We think the apples shown in the photos have been damaged by plum curculios and/or codling moths, most likely the latter. Compare here:
https://blogs.cornell.edu/jentsch/2014/06/24/fruit-with-frass-assessing-1st-generation-codling-moth-injury/
Control measures must be taken shortly after petal fall to prevent injury from these insects. Go here to learn about that:
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/codling-moths
Apple maggot flies usually begin to emerge about now in Minnesota, but they don't begin depositing eggs on apples until 7-8 day later. It's unlikely that apple maggot damage is evident yet in Crow Wing County. However, if you have found apple maggot flies on the tanglefoot, it's time to plan control measures.
Fruit tree sprays and other insecticides labeled for the purpose are recommended. (See Iowa bulletin below.)
Most organic controls aren't very effective, but the same can be said for poorly timed or improperly applied conventional sprays in home gardens. The following bulletin explains why this is often the case:
https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/apple-maggot
Kaolin clay applications (organic) are sometimes used to control apple maggots and other apple insect pests. Go here for more information:
https://ask2.extension.org/scp/tickets.php?id=799609
https://blogs.cornell.edu/jentsch/2014/06/24/fruit-with-frass-assessing-1st-generation-codling-moth-injury/
Control measures must be taken shortly after petal fall to prevent injury from these insects. Go here to learn about that:
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/codling-moths
Apple maggot flies usually begin to emerge about now in Minnesota, but they don't begin depositing eggs on apples until 7-8 day later. It's unlikely that apple maggot damage is evident yet in Crow Wing County. However, if you have found apple maggot flies on the tanglefoot, it's time to plan control measures.
Fruit tree sprays and other insecticides labeled for the purpose are recommended. (See Iowa bulletin below.)
Most organic controls aren't very effective, but the same can be said for poorly timed or improperly applied conventional sprays in home gardens. The following bulletin explains why this is often the case:
https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/apple-maggot
Kaolin clay applications (organic) are sometimes used to control apple maggots and other apple insect pests. Go here for more information:
https://ask2.extension.org/scp/tickets.php?id=799609
