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Who’s Eating My Apple Tree?

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | August 3, 2009 15 Comments

Last updated on May 7th, 2012

TRUE, there were only ten apples on my ‘Gala’ apple tree, but I had grand plans for them. “I’ll bake a pie!” was one thought. “I’ll give them away to friends!” was another. But this morning I learned that my fruit-fantasy was in vain. Why? Because a colony of very lovely but very destructive caterpillars got to my apples first.

Like most modern apple tree varieties, ‘Gala’ is disease resistant. In fact, the nurseryman assured me that it would require no spraying. But he neglected to inform me of the red-humped (and headed) caterpillar, Schizura concinne, which has skeletonized every leaf of my tree, and deposited some sort of goo on the apples.


I blame the loss of my meager crop on my own lack of attention. Had I noticed the very first skeletonized leaf, I could have sprayed the tree with Bacillus thuringiensis, or “BT.” BT is a natural bacterial preparation that causes a disease-like condition in red-humped caterpillars. They stop eating several hours after feeding on a sprayed leaf and die a day or two later. I find BT completely acceptable for green-gardening; unlike the more toxic, broad-spectrum insecticides, it does not harm beneficial insects.

I expect my tree to survive this summer’s defoliation. But I’ll be more watchful next year, and have an economy-sized bottle of BT on hand.

And that is today’s woeful tale from A Garden for the House. I hope your apples are safe and sound, and free of the Red-Humped Monster.

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Comments

  1. 1

    Andrew Thompson says

    August 3, 2009 at 9:34 pm

    You have my sympathy, Kevin. My apple tree is five years old, and I have never had a single fruit from it.

  2. 2

    Gardenlady says

    August 4, 2009 at 12:51 am

    Kevin, I'm glad that your tree will survive. I gave up on fruit trees because they are all so prone to pests!

  3. 3

    janet says

    August 4, 2009 at 1:56 am

    You are right, Kevin, that photograph is beautiful, but scary!

  4. 4

    Katreader says

    August 4, 2009 at 1:53 pm

    I'm so sorry. My apple tree has issues too. This is its second year and it's laden with fruit-but the apples look all “buggy” and those blasted Japanese beetles are eating the leaves. I did spray with an all purpose fruit tree spray earlier in the year, perhaps not early enough.

  5. 5

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    August 4, 2009 at 5:19 pm

    Janet – that photo, shall we say, was taken at “the height of the caterpillars' career.”

    Katreader – How often did you spray? I was told that the all-purpose formula must be applied every two weeks – what a job!

  6. 6

    Samantha says

    August 5, 2009 at 4:11 pm

    I've heard so many horror stories from neighbors who have apple trees, that I have no interest in growing them myself. Thankfully, there's a large, organic apple orchard within 15 minutes of my house.

  7. 7

    Katreader says

    August 6, 2009 at 3:49 am

    I only sprayed once…and they were already a bit buggy looking. Perhaps next year I'll spray as soon as the blooms disappear and be more vigilant.

  8. 8

    Sandra Lee Robertson says

    December 19, 2011 at 2:04 am

    Great info Kevin…, Where do I purchase BT?

  9. 9

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    December 19, 2011 at 8:01 am

    Sandra – Probably you can find BT at almost any farm-store. I bought mine at a place called Agway.

  10. 10

    Diane W. says

    May 1, 2012 at 10:31 pm

    I have a peach tree that looks like it has scabs on the leaves and fruit. What is this?

  11. 11

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    May 1, 2012 at 10:49 pm

    Diane W. – Your tree might be suffering from peach tree leaf curl. You can read more about this fungus and its treatments here.

  12. 12

    Janet Carpenter says

    May 19, 2013 at 11:59 am

    Hello….could you tell me. Can I make BT or do I have to buy it?
    Thank you for a reply

  13. 13

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    May 19, 2013 at 12:08 pm

    Hi Janet – You’ll have to purchased BT. It’s available at most garden centers, and definitely at farm-stores (like Agway).

  14. 14

    Shirley L. says

    September 3, 2013 at 5:53 pm

    Hi Kevin,
    Just found your website and is learning a lot on curing my onions. How do I prevent those moths/butterflies from laying eggs in my apples. This year, out of every 10 apples, only 1 is edible.

  15. 15

    Gary A. says

    August 15, 2015 at 7:08 pm

    What is the adult form. Is it a moth or butterfly? I picked off about 12 or 15 and gave them to my chickens. I think I got them all.

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