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Help! Stone Fruit Tragedy

February 20, 2012

Hello,

I have a pleach – a cross between a blood plum and a white peach. Stunning fruit! I’ve got an issue with fruit fly (that a trap largely failed to control) and also tiny 2-3mm dark brown segmented beetles. I have not been able to identify these anywhere and and other stone fruit is at risk. Any clues?

Thanks,
Anthea

3 Comments on “Help! Stone Fruit Tragedy”

  1. Keith Colls Says:
    21 February, 2012 at 9:20 am

    Anthea,

    CIT School of Horticulture at Bruce provides a free plant clinic for identifying garden insects such as the beetle you described. It is available on Mondays, 2pm to 4pm, Building N, Charles Weston Lane, Cnr Battye and Eade St. Take along one of the beetles and any damage it is causing for them to identify it.

    Keith

  2. Jenny Says:
    21 February, 2012 at 8:53 pm

    Hi Anthea,

    I too had the segmented bugs on my nectarine tree, and practically lost the lot from their maggots. If anyone out there has an idea of what they may be, I would love to know how to treat them for next year.

    Tks
    Jen

  3. Anthea Says:
    2 March, 2012 at 3:25 pm

    Keith, thanks for that advice, I will take one along to them since I work in town. Like Jen, I too had maggots but I strongly suspect they are fruit fly and yes, they do decimate almost the entire crop. Will post advice when identified.

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