Knowledgebase

Apple bark damage #864207

Asked April 12, 2024, 8:42 AM EDT

I am looking for help IDing the damage to my apple and pear tree bark. Hundreds of superficial circular lesions with two black circles. I have posted on NAFEX with no luck.

Franklin County Vermont

Expert Response

Hi, Nolan.  Thanks for your question.  I’m sharing your photos with our plant pathologist. While we wait to hear back 
from her, can you tell me more about your apple and pear trees?  How long have you had these lesions? When did you first notice them (eg. after a wet spring, during a drought, etc.)? How is the fruit? What have you observed on the leaves?

Thanks for your patience while we work on this.
The worst trees are my honey crisp on m111 root stock. These were planted in 2020. They have not fruited yet. I think the lesions have been there a couple years. I noticed that other trees are now being affected such as a liberty apple and a Ure pear. The leaves seem fine… some fungus here and there especially after last years wet summer. I got very little fruit overall last year but fruit was normal. 

I spray with horticultural oil and copper fungicide if that helps. 

Soil ph 6.3, normal micro/ macro nutrients. I mulch with wood chips and apply homemade compost every year. 

Thanks for the help! Happy to send in more pics if needed 

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 12, 2024, at 9:29 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied April 13, 2024, 7:19 AM EDT
Hi, Nolan.  Thanks for your patience while we have been working on this.  Our plant pathologist spoke with an apple expert and reports that "he said he saw this damage 10-15 years ago and it is buffalo tree hopper damage. The insect attacks any fruit tree and cuts slits in the bark and lays eggs. Here is more info https://www.canr.msu.edu/ipm/diseases/buffalo_treehopper?language_id=

If you see damage on the new tissue you may want to clip it out or use an insecticide, but I suspect it was a one time occurrence. Let us know if you see any damage on the new growth this year."

Management advice from the MSU link above: "Eliminate all alternative hosts such as leguminous plants growing in close proximity; remove shoots infested with eggs; if necessary, apply broad-spectrum insecticides to foliage if adults appear on young apple trees in June or July (seldom required)."

Here's another resource, https://extension.psu.edu/tree-fruit-insect-pest-buffalo-treehopper, with similar management advice: "Young trees should be checked for the presence of scarring in autumn or winter. Severely scarred branches should be pruned out. Controlling weeds should reduce alternate feeding sites. Since the egg-laying period lasts several months, insecticide spray timing is difficult. Insecticides should be used only if economic damage is occurring to young trees beyond the control ability of winter pruning."

Let us know if this seems like the problem, and if you see any of these insects and their damage this year.

Very interesting! Thanks so much for the help. What a wonderful service we have in Vermont 
Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 15, 2024, at 12:10 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied April 15, 2024, 4:40 PM EDT
Your welcome, Nolan! This is one I had never seen before, so a great learning lesson for us!  Reach out to us again if you ever have any questions regarding your home gardens.  
An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 16, 2024, 8:40 AM EDT

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