This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Apple Tree Caterpillar
Ben Osh
Posts: 4
Hello all,
Please could anyone help identify what this caterpillar is? It is killing my apple tree. I tried spraying the tree with Bayern Provado bug killer but that didn't work. Has anyone successfully treated this problem. Also the leaves are getting brown, curly with fine sand particles attached to them. What do I do?
0
Posts
It's not really a good idea to go spraying insecticide around if you don't know what the problem is. You may well find you've killed beneficial insects which prey on garden pests.
I can't see any caterpillars on your photo - can you post a closeup - click on the green tree icon on the toolbar above where you type your post, and follow the instructions. You may get an error message but ignore it. We will then be able to zoom in on the photo and get a better look.
Apple trees are usually host to all sorts of insects, most beneficial or at least harmless - they may damage a few leaves, but this usually does no harm to the tree.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Sorry, Hope this is a photo is better. I just want to avoid last year's problem where it was too late and all the apples and leaves were infested.
that bug on there is not a caterpillar, it looks like a juvenile ladybird, one of the good guys if you've got aphids, its also can be killed by bug killer that you used
You appear to have a bad case of aphids, as far as I can see from the picture. And as Treehugger says, the 'bug' is an aphid eater. Spraying with Provado is not a good idea as it definitely does harm the good guys as well as the baddies.
Fantastic, thanks for the response chaps. I researched further and identified it as Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) larvae. They are really one of the good guys and feast on aphids however in late summer when they run out of aphids they are known to feast on soft fruits, apples and pear orchids, as well.
So I must apologies for my ignorance in attempting to eradicate them without the correct knowledge.
are you sure its a harlequin ladybird?
if you are sure you should destroy it, as Harlequins are an introduced and invasive species that's eats our native ladybird species!