Caterpillars on the apple tree: causes of occurrence, methods of control and prevention

Almost every gardener can boast of the presence on such a site of such a culture as an apple tree. This fruit tree is capable of pleasing for many years a selective and abundant harvest. However, its cultivation is a rather serious matter, because an apple tree can be favored by such pests as caterpillars, from which it is sometimes difficult to get rid of. How to recognize the parasite, what methods to deal with it and what to do to prevent the appearance - let's talk in our article.

Varieties of caterpillars a huge amount. Scientists number up to several thousand species. Some of them are easy to identify by an open lifestyle, while others prefer to remain inconspicuous, hiding from prying eyes. In some cases, the defeat of the apple can be seen only by comparing the various signs. One of the clear signs may be that the foliage and trunk of a tree are in a dense web. Its concentration can be different, ranging from small areas and ending with huge areas closed to it.

It is worth considering the most famous and frequently occurring parasites, as well as their distinguishing features.

It is a caterpillar with a muddy yellow color, on its back there are 2 rows of black dots, as well as a small hair coat. The pest is small in size, usually around 1.5 centimeters. Such insects from all fruit trees choose the apple tree, where they live, forming colonies, in nests of spiderwebs, which are located on the leaves. Apple moths are able to multiply rapidly.

These are green caterpillars of quite significant size; they can grow up to 2.5–3 centimeters in length. The winter peppered moth has 5 pairs of legs and differs in the way of movement, as it is arched by an arc. It can damage the tree entirely, since it lays eggs under its bark, it prefers to dwell in the crown, and the pupae are located in the ground near the apple tree itself. These parasites eat not only the leaves, but also the buds with flowers, while enveloping the entire space with cobwebs.

This is a gray insect with stripes of blue shade along the body. It is active at night, while sleeping during the day under the web.

These are especially common yellow insects up to 4 centimeters in size. On their body are black stripes. The pupae appear at the end of May, and in June one can see in the leaf cocoons that hang on the web. You can recognize them on the gnawed leaves of an apple tree with remnants of veins.

If large shaggy black caterpillars are seen on the apple tree, most likely, the gardener collided with this pest. Its size can reach 7 centimeters, feeds on the parasite leaves, flowers and ovaries. The formation of cocoons occurs in early summer, but by the middle there are butterflies. One individual can lay up to 1000 eggs.

It got its name due to the color of dark orange color, on the body has fine hairs. Touching such a pest can trigger a person to experience an allergic reaction.

Often the caterpillars can be located not only on the surface of the tree, but also to hide under its bark. This category is especially dangerous, as it is quite difficult to recognize them, and this can take precious time, which leads to an abrupt death of a tree that does not have signs of the spread of pests. Since the caterpillars in this case damage the wood, the trunk cannot function normally, and it also becomes weakened and more susceptible to the effects of bacteria and fungus. The most common are several types of parasites.

• Apple glasshouse. This pest lives only on the apple tree, making moves under the bark.The weak points of the tree are cracks and damage from frost, and a caterpillar is located in them in early spring. After flowering, the insect reaches 2.5 cm in length. Its impact is dangerous in that damaged elements can dry out and die out.
• Odorous treewrecker. This is a rather large brown insect with a darker head. It is characterized by a pronounced smell of wood vinegar.
• Oriental moth. If small caterpillars of pink color appeared on the tree, most likely, it was attacked by the eastern moth. It parasites on young branches, one individual can lay up to 300 eggs. The only method to combat such pests is to destroy the nest.
• The wood is corrosive. This is a light yellow caterpillar of large sizes. Its appearance is notable for the presence of black spots, on which short hairs are visible.

Until the apple trees have bloomed, a competent gardener should carefully check the buds. If the caterpillars are seen in them, you must immediately start the fight, otherwise you can not wait for a good harvest. Flowers and buds are a favorite delicacy for certain types of caterpillars.

• Sheet wrench. Insect can reach 2 centimeters in length, parasitizes both on buds and buds, and on leaves. Until the time of pupation, it is rather difficult to find a leaf-maker, which threatens to damage the plant's buds. The first sign of the appearance of this pest is a green worm, hanging on the web in the tree crown, noticing which you need to immediately begin processing. Already in the middle of summer, the signs will become more pronounced - the leaves will be rolled up and covered with cobwebs.
• Hawthorn. It can cause large-scale attacks, especially abnormally hot summer for its spread. The larvae feed mainly on leaves, not limited to only apple trees and causing significant damage to other cultures.
• Codling moth. This is a naked red-pink caterpillar of small size. The insect hibernates under the bark or in the ground near the tree, wrapped in a cocoon. It is activated after flowering, laying eggs on leaves or ovaries. These caterpillars especially harm apples, gnawing at them the moves and spoiling the harvest.

The main reasons for the appearance of caterpillars are the attack on the butterfly tree, the neglect of preventive measures and sanitary measures, lack of proper care. Caterpillars parasitize on plants, capable of capturing large areas. Their main quality is a great appetite, and not only the crown of the plant suffers, but also the bark, buds, flowers and fruits. In particularly advanced cases, the culture may die.

For the most effective fight against these harmful insects Experts recommend to consider the following main points:

• correct parasite classification;
• integrated fight with him.

In order to fight the enemy, it is necessary to determine its appearance. For example, if the leaves are rolled up, the tree is struck by a moth, the cobweb that has tightened its crown speaks of the attack of the apple moth, and the larvae of the hawthorn have a gray color. As for complex processing, there are no special difficulties. Every gardener who grows an apple tree on his own plot has an idea of ​​how to take care of it. Such an approach should include preventive measures, proper pruning, feeding and proper watering.

If a pest is found on an apple tree, should immediately take measures that will help destroy it. In this case, it is important to thoroughly approach the problem, following all instructions step by step. The fight can be carried out as folk remedies, and with the use of specialized drugs.

The problem of caterpillars parasitizing on apple trees is not new. Many decades ago, lovers of this culture also encountered it. Therefore, folk remedies to help cope with the scourge, quite effective and time tested. They include natural ingredients that do not allow harm to trees. And also it is a rather economical way, because in the fight against pests are used improvised means and natural components. It is worth considering the most popular tools.

• No matter how paradoxical it may sound, but one of the easiest ways is This is the fight against insects with water. A strong jet directed at the tree, allows you to wash off some of the hidden species of caterpillars, such as the silkworm and moth. However, after the procedure is required to manually collect the pests and destroy them. In addition, you can use a variety of decoctions and herbal infusions.
• Celandine. This plant helps to get rid of all types of caterpillars. The infusion should be prepared from dried leaves, a glass which is soaked in a bucket of clean water and left for 2 days. After this time, the mixture is filtered and mixed with a small amount of grated soap. The resulting composition is required to spray the fruit tree.
• From celandine you can make a decoction. The leaves are covered with 1 liter of hot water and boil for about 10–15 minutes. You can use a water bath. After this, the broth is filtered and poured into a bucket of water. Composition also need to process the apple tree.

• If the tree attacked the moth, it is necessary to cook Special belt from the same celandine. To do this, green plants tied around the trunk. It is recommended to carry out the procedure in the spring, and in the fall to make a new belt.
• Tomato decoction This recipe is great for caterpillars that harm apple leaves. A kilogram of tops must be dipped in a bucket of water for several hours, then put on a stove for 2-3 hours. In the resulting broth is added 2 more buckets of water.
• Sagebrush. It is also relevant when attacking leaf-eating insects. The composition can be prepared in several ways. A kilogram of dried flowers of wormwood is poured with a liter of water and put on the fire for 15 minutes, then poured into a bucket of water. The decoction is effective against the moth and leafworm. It is recommended to make an infusion of fresh wormwood as follows. When the plant is in bloom, it must be harvested and cut into small pieces. A half-bucket of wormwood is poured with 10 liters of water for a day, after which the mixture must be boiled and held on the fire for 30 minutes. Water is diluted in equal proportions.

If the idea of ​​herbs came to the gardener is not to their liking, you can try to fight with the use of household tools.

• Soda. This tool is available in the arsenal of any hostess, in addition, it is inexpensive, sold everywhere and well helps in the fight against pests. Soda can be used for these purposes in the following ways:
  • first of all it is spraying - to prepare a solution of 2-3 tablespoons of the product you need to pour in a bucket of water and mix thoroughly;
  • You can powder the tree - for this soda should be mixed with flour or wood ash. It should be borne in mind that in order to preserve all the properties of the product it is impossible to use dishes made of metal, aluminum or plastic when working with it.

• Birch tar with soap. This tool is considered one of the most ancient, but this does not become less effective.For its manufacture is used birch bark. It is particularly effective against pests such as the hawthorn and moth. It affects each of these caterpillars in its own way, but the recipe of cooking does not differ. For the manufacture of the composition is taken 10 grams of tar and half of the soap, is added to a bucket of water and mixed. After that, the solution is poured into plastic containers and hung on a tree to form a kind of insect trap. The treatment of tar soap is saved not only by wood, but also the earth around it from the attacks of the haws.

• Can make traps with the addition, for example, apple compote or juice, the smell of which is so fond of the leafworm that will serve as an excellent bait. And also trap glue belts are made using ordinary glue. In addition, it must be remembered that birds are excellent assistants in pest control, so it would be nice to lure them on your site.

For the final destruction of parasites, in some cases it may be necessary to use specialized drugs, the names of which are mostly familiar to any summer resident. Professional tools help to quickly deal with the problem, and the result is overwhelmingly positive.

• "Intavir". This substance is detrimental to the nervous system of the insect, leading to paralysis of organs. It comes in powder and tablets.
• "Tanrek." It is a liquid concentrate that can affect the plant. In this way, the caterpillar eats it, which also leads to paralysis and death. It can affect not only the caterpillars themselves, but also the larvae. It is not washed away by precipitation, the effect lasts up to a month.
• "Fufanon." It is a liquid concentrate that acts on the intestines of the pest. After poisoning the caterpillar death occurs within 24 hours. The effect lasts for 1.5 weeks. He has no sharp smell.
• "Malathion". May be sold in tablets, powder and granules. It lasts for about 10 days, when it comes into contact with a caterpillar, it causes its instant death.

In order to prevent the caterpillar from poisoning the mood in the summer period, it is necessary to take care of preventive measures. For this we must not forget about the treatment of sites in early spring. It is best to use urea or copper sulfate. The bark should be periodically cleaned, and the trunk - whiten. And also in the springtime it is worth holding a sanitary pruning of apple tree branches. When visual inspection is easy to detect the nests of the tracks, which will allow them to destroy them in a timely manner. Dead leaves and fruits should also be removed on time.

On the protection of apple pests, see the following video.