Many people are interested in the pressing question of how to deal with wormy apples. To cope with the problem, you can choose an effective remedy. Most often, chemical and biological preparations are used for this. In addition to basic remedies, it is permissible to use folk recipes. In order not to encounter a problem, it is necessary to follow the rules of prevention.
Common causes of pests
People often wonder why wormy fruit appears on a tree. This symptom indicates that the crop has been damaged by pests. A common cause of problems is codling moth infestation. This insect is a butterfly with a maximum length of 20 millimeters. The caterpillars of these pests are especially dangerous. The butterfly flight begins in June and lasts 1 month. During this time, insects lay green eggs on leaves and fruits. During the season, the codling moth can infect up to 5 apples. If the apple falls, the parasites return to the tree.
What contributes to the reproduction of the pest
The active years of butterflies are observed exclusively in warm weather. This occurs at evening temperatures of at least +15-17 degrees. The appearance of pests is prevented by strong rains and winds. In other cases, they attack trees.
Signs of tree infection
When a tree is infected, wormholes appear in the fruit. This symptom indicates the appearance of parasites. The main one is considered to be the codling moth. This is what leads to fruit damage.
Danger to the crop
The codling moth causes very significant harm. It can hit up to 5 apples. Each butterfly lays 1 egg in different places. Their maximum quantity can be 120 pieces. On a tree, the number of affected apples can reach 30%.
Worms enter the fruit through a break in the skin or a recess for the petiole. They absorb the pulp, which causes the apple to rot.
The damaged area also attracts wasps. Rot creates favorable conditions for the proliferation of fungi and bacteria.
Means to combat the worm
Many people are interested in what to spray an apple tree with.To avoid active reproduction of larvae, you can use chemical, folk, and biological remedies.
Chemical
Organophosphorus substances are considered the best options. They should be used during the period when caterpillars emerge from eggs. To avoid damage to the tree, it is recommended to strictly follow the instructions on the packaging. The best options for drugs are Tod, Calypso, Atom. When using chemicals, it is recommended to take personal protective measures.
Folk
There are many simple and effective remedies that are harmless to insects. The most effective substances include:
- Birch tar;
- wormwood decoction;
- tansy infusion.
To make the product stick better, it is recommended to add crushed soap to the spray solution.
Biological
The most effective biological substances include the following:
- Lepidocide - helps to cope with massive damage to apple trees by caterpillars.
- Fitoverm is the most popular remedy. It can be used at any time. The drug is safe for people and crops.
- Bitoxibacillin - the composition is allowed to be used exclusively during the growing season.
Processing by season
Many people are interested in when to treat apple trees. Measures should be taken taking into account the seasonal factor:
- In the spring, before the buds swell, it is recommended to remove old nests, clean the bark and trim the branches.
- When the buds are swelling, remove parasites manually or shake the branches. It is also worth treating apple trees with copper sulfate or using Nitrofen.
- At the stage of bud formation, use Bordeaux mixture.
- After flowering, collect adults by hand. It is also worth cleaning the bark and trunk area.
- In summer, monitor the condition of the trees. Of no small importance is the removal of carrion, caterpillars and other parasites.
- In the fall, remove the hunting belts, whiten the tree, and prune.
How to get rid of a worm
What to do if worms appear? This question is relevant for many gardeners. There are many effective methods that help solve the problem.
In the trunk of an apple tree
Sapwood, bark beetles, and subcortical budworms lay larvae in the bark of trees. They make holes and lay eggs in them. Then larvae appear in the structure. To eliminate parasites you need to do the following:
- open the affected area;
- fill the syringe with insecticide and inject it into the wound;
- treat the bark with a balm based on clay, lime, mullein, copper and iron sulfate.
In flowers
The apple flower beetle lays eggs in flowers. The larvae gnaw through the buds, which leads to crop loss. To cope with the problem, it is recommended to follow these rules:
- use catch belts;
- shake off adults onto a tarpaulin - this is done in the morning;
- whiten trunks with lime;
- treat the plants until the buds open - for this you should use Iskra or Karbofos.
Prevention measures
To avoid problems, it is recommended to do the following:
- collect caterpillars by hand;
- use catch belts;
- shake off parasites;
- remove the trunk circle;
- remove affected areas.
Worms quite often infect apples. This creates many problems for gardeners. To cope with parasites, you need to process the plantings in a timely manner.
