Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Apple tree and wasps

sheshemane8sheshemane8 Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hi, I'm new here and would be very grateful for your assistance please. I have a young apple tree which was meant to be a dwarf type, it is about 8 ft tall. It's about 5 years old and has only fruited once, which was the first year. Since then, each year it becomes infested with either whitefly or aphids, this year it is covered in green aphids. Interestingly, there are also wasps which seem to enjoying the leaves. I will be cutting it down at some point as it's a bit of a problem, but I am am wondering why the wasps are on it if there is no fruit? This evening I have counted at least 5.
Thank you in advance, any advice will be gratefully received.

Posts

  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    Wasps eat insects as well as fruit. Indeed on the Natural History Museum website it says UK wasps eat 14 million kgs of caterpillars, greenfly etc a year. I have just worked out - because there’s nothing decent on TV at the moment - that if those insects were bags of flour it would equate to a pile 250 metres wide, 250 metres deep and 250 metres high. 
    Rutland, England
  • sheshemane8sheshemane8 Posts: 4
    Thank you for your prompt reply. I also found that information, they certainly are fascinating! I am of course keeping my distance whilst watching them, it's very odd to see them almost dancing on the leaves while ignoring the aphids which are on the stems. 
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Wasps have a sweet tooth and aphids excrete honeydew which is high in sugar. Quite often bees and wasps lap the stuff up for some extra energy.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • sheshemane8sheshemane8 Posts: 4
    Thank you for your prompt reply. I think you are right about that. One thing is for certain, they are all enjoying my sad little apple tree with no fruit. 
  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    Some quick questions.

    Do you get apple blossom in spring?
     Do you prune your tree in winter?
    How many apple trees do you have (or are close to your tree)? Generally you'll need 2 to pollinate and set fruit.
  • sheshemane8sheshemane8 Posts: 4
    No blossom, it is attacked before it has a chance. I did prune it in winter of last year, but as soon as the new growth appeared in spring it had black aphids. So this time I desperately lopped off all the new growth and hoped for the best. Last chance Harvey situation. There are no other apple trees and loads of green aphids, wasps, ants if course.
Sign In or Register to comment.