Keepitlow: As your Asian pears mature, and become really sweet, they can be attacked by wasps attracted by the sugar. These can include the giant European hornet, which really likes Asian pears when they are ripe. These hornets bore holes into the fruit, and can literally hollow them out. Be careful when fiddling around an Asian pear containing a hornet -- the stings from these big fellows are unforgettable. They will not attack or pursue you, but if you squeeze one while feeding, it will hand you a stinger. No, wasps do not only eat insects. When the wasps or hornets start boring holes in ripe fruit, it is time to pick. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Not really a name that I know of. If I were doing it, the cut on the trunk would have some angle to it. The high side would end about a half inch above the shoot you select. The bottom side would start a half inch or so lower. In a couple years it won't matter. That's just my way of doing such cuts. I don't know what others think but the cut doesn't have to be done now. In fact it might be better to wait a year or two. For right now you could select the strongest shoot. Keep the others pulled off. Cut the trunk off for now up about 18-24 inches. You could tie the new shoot to the stub until it gets some size. Then cut off the stub. Be sure the new shoot doesn't get girdled with anything used to tie it up. So don't tie it real tight. Just tight enough for some support in strong winds.

Thanks for the response guys. I've cut open several pears and found that yep, I've got tunnels. Haven't seen any of the worms yet though. I've been hunting down all the fruit that show the frass. Hopefully that will control the population well enough. Regarding the splitting, that sounds about right. It was brutal hot for a while, then we deep soaked the trees. Anyone on the the shriveled fruit?

Buyali: In the absence of a photo, you could give us a better description of just how high you are placing the grafts on the rootstocks. If they are close to the ground, your problem could as well be rabbits as deer. If you suspect animals of some type, the rootstock may have to be protected with a circle of wire. You describe the damage as on the "tip of the emerging leaf", which would tend to suggest insects, but many types of insects eat and move on, and would no longer be on the leaves when you look at them with your magnifier. I don't know what active ingredient is contained in Wilson's Bug Spray (the label should say), but it may not be effective against what you are targeting. Try malathion or permethrin. I don't think I would put grease on my rootstocks. If it is petroleum-based grease, it could damage the tissue. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA