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Pear midge.

barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
in Fruit & veg
I visited the allotment today and noticed that some of the tiny pearlets have turned black which I believe to be the affects of pear midge attack, this is the first time that this pest has attacked the tree and from reading information on the internet it suggests that all of this years crop will be affected, what a bummer!

Posts

  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    What a bummer, indeed. Such is gardening. Turn your back on a plant and the wretched thing will get some pest or disease that is going to wipe out the crop for miles around.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    There are things you can do if it is pear midge. Have you seen this RHS article? - 
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/pear-midge

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    Thanks @Pete.8 I have just read the piece and it looks like the situation isn't as bad as I had first thought, in fact thinking back the tree may have been affected in years past without me paying the black fruitlets much attention, its just that this year having noticed them I researched the cause and read that pear midge damage causes the unaffected fruit to stop growing thus losing all of the crop, I'll monitor the situation.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    edited May 2023
    I had it for a number of years when the pear trees were young. It seemed to affect one tree ( a beth, I think) more than the conference which seems to be bomb proof. I made a point of picking off all affected fruitlets and putting them in the brown bin. Do not compost them or leave on the ground, it just perpetuates the cycle.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    There's also June-drop to bear in mind.
    Apples and pears initially produce a vast number of tiny fruits.
    Too many for the tree to support and ripen to maturity, so the tree drops them to lighten the load.
    Are the baby pears infested with maggots?
    If not, then likely it's just June-drop

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    Yes I cut them open and there were maggots inside.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Definitely pear midge then :(
    Hope you can keep it under control - good luck!

    You could try a Winter Tree Wash which may help (obviously use only in Winter - not when there are leaves)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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