Hello Rose Mary,

The pictures are a little unfocused so it is hard to tell exactly what you're asking about. My guess is that this is the result of oriental fruit moths burrowing into the terminals. From where is the sap leaking?

Ants would be attracted to the leaking sap as a sugar source rather than being the cause of it.

Are there any symptoms on the fruit?

It could potentially be aphids, but some clearer photos would be helpful.

On Tue, Jul 9, 2024 at 12:57 PM, Ask Extension

<<personal data hidden>> wrote:

Hello Rose Mary,,

As far as the blossoms not setting into fruit it’s likely based on your location that your trees were blooming during the April 24th frost, which caused crop loss in stone fruits in the region.

The blackened tips may be related to the frost but it’s hard to tell without additional pictures. You could prune the tips off, but the whole branch would already have some of next year’s fruiting buds on it, so you should maintain the branches.

There is nothing more you can do to treat the issue this season if it’s a result of the frost. If it’s oriental fruit moth then next year you could begin treatment with an insecticide labeled for tree fruit insects starting at petal fall and then reapply at approximately 10 day intervals (see label of whichever product you’re using).

The trees otherwise seem in good health and should flower again next year.

On Mon, Jul 15, 2024 at 7:41 AM, Ask Extension

<<personal data hidden>> wrote: