Does the Yellow Sticky Traps Work to Prevent Worms in Cherries? - Ask Extension
I have a cherry tree that produced very well without any pest for years. Now it gets these little black spots along with worms. I've investigated and ...
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Does the Yellow Sticky Traps Work to Prevent Worms in Cherries? #871793
Asked June 05, 2024, 6:16 PM EDT
I have a cherry tree that produced very well without any pest for years. Now it gets these little black spots along with worms. I've investigated and tried nematodes, neem oil, worm castings, urgh. Then I noticed similar spots on my apple tree. This year I sprayed both with neem oil before the flowers set. Then the baby apples were loaded with bright green scale looking bugs. Just the apples, not the branches. About a week later the scale like looking bugs are gone and they all have black indented spots that clearly have worms or something. I cut the tree back and collected all the green fruit I could find to be GONE. But, I know it's just a matter of time before whatever it was finds the cherry tree. I want to use the yellow sticky traps in the cherry tree but seems like a overly broad approach. Do you know what these pest might be? Do you know how to get rid them? Do know how to keep them out of the cherry tree?
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
The yellow sticky traps help and are very good for surveillance and do reduce numbers.
https://entomology.oregonstate.edu/sites/agscid7/files/entomology/apple_maggot.pdf
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/i-occasionally-find-small-white-worms-my-cherries-what-best-way-control-them#:~:text=To%20prevent%20maggots%20from%20appearing,several%20sprays%20will%20be%20needed.
An old treatment is kaolin clay and it is non toxic and effective.
There is a product called Surround that is kaolin clay. You spray it on the the cherries before they get very large. The clay keeps the flies from laying eggs however, it must be re-applied at least once as the cherries grow larger. It can be used on apples, pears, plums, etc.
https://entomology.oregonstate.edu/sites/agscid7/files/entomology/apple_maggot.pdf
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/i-occasionally-find-small-white-worms-my-cherries-what-best-way-control-them#:~:text=To%20prevent%20maggots%20from%20appearing,several%20sprays%20will%20be%20needed.
An old treatment is kaolin clay and it is non toxic and effective.
There is a product called Surround that is kaolin clay. You spray it on the the cherries before they get very large. The clay keeps the flies from laying eggs however, it must be re-applied at least once as the cherries grow larger. It can be used on apples, pears, plums, etc.
Thank you, Evelyn. Looks like I may be too late, but I will try both the yellow tape and Surround.
Do you know where you can purchase Surround? Looks like it is sold in 25 pound bags, making shipping unreasonable.
Thank you, Evelyn. Looks like I may be too late, but I will try both the yellow tape and Surround.
Amazon and Etsy sell it by the pound and larger garden centers like Gertens and Bachmanns probably do too. Fleet farm or a farm supply store probably sells smaller amounts. Look for kaolin clay. The solution is 1.5-2 cups per gallon plus 1 T dish detergent. You don’t have to buy the brand name Surround. If you buy Surround follow the directions on the label.
https://www.phillyorchards.org/2015/05/04/kaolin-clay-sprays-for-fruit-trees/
https://www.phillyorchards.org/2015/05/04/kaolin-clay-sprays-for-fruit-trees/
Terrific! I wasn't sure. Thank you.
Thanks, happy growing!
