Topic: Holes in apple fruitlets

[raisedbedted]

Hi All

Something is eating the fruits on my apples, the holes are about 5mm across and the only thing I can see are ants around and inside the holes.  Do you think the ants are farming the culprits?

Any suggestions on what I can do (organically).

Thanks to all,

Adrian

[Rhys]

I have the same holes too...I'm thinking its caterpillars?

[Robert_Brenchley]

Chafer damage? There are various species of these beetles which attack various crops; the adults will go for immature fruit.

[raisedbedted]

Thanks, have just been looking at pics of chafers and have seen some of the larvae around so you could well be right.

Worryingly some sites report that when they are happy they are unlikely to ever leave a tree...

Drat.

Adrian

[saddad]

Is there frass, chewed up brown bits, by the hole? If so it is a caterpiller/grub coming out, still a bit early for Codling moth but they are the main culprits around here!
 ???

[Rhys]

Had a look on google and I think it could be the 'tortrix moth caterpillar' - they prefer the fruitlets to the leaves.  They also spin a 'web' around leaves to protect them.

[raisedbedted]

No frass or cob web, very smooth hole with something brown about 2mm in the middle, ants all over them.

Another suggestion thats been offered is apply sawfly?

Adrian