Hello Joe, 

Thanks for reaching out, and thanks for sending that photo! Do you notice any insects on the trees? It looks like insect damage, and a photo of the insects would be helpful. Perhaps consider looking in the morning or at sunset, or look at the underside of the leaf for possible eggs. 

Here are two helpful links to compare leaf damage and insects: 

https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/extension-topics/gardening-and-horticulture/trees-and-shrubs/apple-trees/diagnosing-1

https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/fruit/apple/leavesholes.html

I hope this helps!

Hi Joe, 

Yes! From what I can tell in the photo, those look like Japanese beetles. There are some great tips for managing Japanese beetles in this UMN Extension article: https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/japanese-beetles

Leaves that are damaged by the beetles emit airborne chemicals that attract more beetles, so handpicking the beetles off your tree, or knocking them into a soapy bucket of water, will reduce the number of new beetles attracted to your tree. 

There are insecticides that can be effective, but unfortunately, they pose a significant risk to pollinators and beneficial insects. If these pollinators are not present, then no pollination will occur, and of course, there will be no apples. It's difficult to find a balance between controlling the Japanese beetles and protecting the pollinators (and your apple crop!). 

I'd suggest starting with the physical removal of the beetles, and maybe considering a physical barrier (such as netting). If that doesn't solve the problem, the "Using Pesticides" section of the article I sent has specific insecticides, including Neem oil and others that are low-risk, to consider. Remember to always follow the insecticide label directions attached to the container you are using - the label is the law. 

Good luck!