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Fruit & Orchards

Tiny bugs - not aphids - on my apple tree.

7 years ago

I've tiny bugs on the leaves of my apple tree. They are only 2 millimetres, round, and appear to be mottled with black and white. I have not put them under a "glass" but they appear to have wings - when I turned a leaf for a better look I saw for a moment what looked like the ends of wings slide out at the rear of the bug. There are lots of them. The apples are approx. 1/4 " in size. I've also got a leaf curler of some sort, a dark slender bug about 1/3rd" long, and a slender green lace wing about 1/2" long . Any ideas as to what they are? And what spray to use? Thank you!

Featured Answer

PRO

The Logician LLC

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

The tiny round bug is Psyllobora vigintimaculata - Twenty-Spotted Lady Beetle (often some of the spots are overlapping), or possibly P. borealis (the western version). These lady beetles eat fungus and powdery mildew.

The larva could be a leaf-roller or leaf-tier caterpillar.

You would have to cut into the fruit to see if there was a moth or a fly larva inside.

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Comments (10)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years ago
Need to see to ID :-)) Photos please!!
fireweed_1947 thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
fireweed_1947
Original Author
7 years ago
Sorry! I will send them as soon as I get my PC back from repair shop!!
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lucky_p
7 years ago
Not every 'bug' warrants a spray.
fireweed_1947 thanked lucky_p
Jean
7 years ago
Very good chance they are aphids. (Those little fellows come in various colors, also with wings or without.)

What sort of damage do you see?
fireweed_1947 thanked Jean
fireweed_1947
Original Author
7 years ago
No. Not aphids. Tiny round bugs 2 mm appear to be black and white. If I were guessing I would say they look like tiny round apple maggot flies.
fireweed_1947
Original Author
7 years ago
I've never seen an aphid like the tiny mottled round bug. I've a pic of a larvae which was hidden in a folded leaf but slid down a silk thread when I disturbed it. Also a leaf roller nest, I think.
fireweed_1947
Original Author
7 years ago
Haven't checked this tree for fruit damage today. But at least 2 tiny apples on another tree have pinholes. I compared the round bug with an apple maggot fly because of the coloring. Sorry the larvae is blurred - The breeze didn't help.
fireweed_1947
Original Author
7 years ago
I think Something on this tree does warrant a spray.
fireweed_1947
Original Author
7 years ago
What an enormous name for such a tiny little thing. I've never seen one before but I'm glad it's a good bug. I will check the fruit for larva. There are lots of little apples this year so I hope they don't all get ruined. Thank you for the information. Next time I inspect the trees I'll take my large magnifying glass.

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