So I got a response. Turns out everything is ok. Read the response from the dept of ag below: I sent one our guys by your house the other day and they did an inspection of your tree, but did not find anything of concern. Based on the size of the tree, he determined that one of our traps was probably not necessary. We did find a larger tree around the block from you and one will be going in there soon. We did learn a little more from your pictures though. Based on the size of a piece of fruit collected off of the ground at your residence, our entomologist was able to come up with an approximate size of the larva from your photographs and he believes that the images you took are of fly larvae in the Ulidiiae (formerly Otitidae) family. A common fly larvae found on damaged or decaying fruit. We also routinely find these flies in our traps throughout Arizona. Here is a link with more images: http://www.padil.gov.au/maf-border/Pest/Main/140616/33211 The other images that you sent me the other day are of another one of our natives called the Smoketree Sharpshooter (Homalodisca liturata). More images: http://bugguide.net/node/view/68198 This insect is often confused with the Glassy Winged Sharpshooter (Homalodisca coagulata or Homalodisca vitripennis) which is considered invasive in Arizona but occurs frequently in southern California. http://bugguide.net/node/view/825013 You can readily tell the difference between these two by looking at the head. There are distinct yellow colored lines on a Smoketree Sharpshooter and dots on a Glassy Winged Sharpshooter (GWSS). GWSS is generally larger also.

I don't know enough about European sphinx moths to be helpful - try posting this on the Butterfly forum, and mention where you live - someone there may be able to help. Tucker

Susan, those are the eggs of the Spined Soldier Bug, a truebug species that predates on soft bodied insect larvae....caterpillars and similar. When freshly laid, they are a pretty goldish color. These are either very close to hatching and/or have been invaded by a parasite which is developing inside the egg instead of the SSB. Insect eggs can be glorious.

Uncertain what is happening in the 1st image you posted. Can you add a closer view of the damage? In the added images - - - The first large brown spot is sunscald. Brown areas in other images is insufficient water sometime in the past. You now live in a hot, dry region with dry summers. Depending upon where you moved from, you may need to relearn irrigation practices..