I've got that too. I found eggs inside some of mine. The lady beetles seem to be very active on my apples right now, so i was hoping they would take care of it.

It looks very much like aphid damage. Not uncommon on tender, new growth in Spring. Unpeel some of those leaves and check out the backsides and see if you can find any tiny green aphids, which might be hard to see. Some people spray insecticidal soaps while other just spray them with a jet of water. Even if you do nothing this may simply run its course without any lasting damage.

Glenn:

Those are aphids inside the rolled leaves. Malathion is effective against aphids, and I don't know about insecticidal soap since I want to kill aphids not wash them. It is true that aphid damage is often limited, but if allowed to remain they may return next season in greater numbers. I believe a strong dormant oil spray just before bud break can greatly reduce overwintering aphid populations, and keep their lifecycle under control. Ladybugs are active against aphids, but there never are enough to do the job, and imported ladybugs just fly off. You can also prune off and discard affected twigs when damage is not too extensive, but if you dormant spray with full coverage you should never have enough aphids to constitute a threat.

The real threat to a Spitzenberg tree is not aphids but fireblight, to which it is remarkably susceptible. My little Spitz is gone for that reason, and it only lasted three years. The only other variety I have grown with similar susceptibility to fireblight was Braeburn, and those are gone too.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Thanks Tcstoehr & Jellyman-
Ahh yes. Alphids. I've often seen them later in the season, and whacked them with insecticidal soap, or even sevin or permethrin, but never known them to do that much damage to the leaves. This year, I've done 2 sprays of Triazicide Once and Done, but this leaf damage may have happened before then. I'll open them up tomorrow and see if I can see anything still living. Interestingly enough, they look at lot like the blackberry leaf damage that I've seen in the past. I wonder if it's the same critter.

Yeah, the Spitzenburg probably wasn't my best pick, but I do a preventative dormant oil & Kocide3000 spray, and I've even started mixing in some Agristrep. Hopefully that will hold off the FB. I think I used a lesser % dormant oil this year... maybe I should go a little stronger next year to really kill any overwintering population.

Thanks again... You guys are a wealth of knowledge
-Glenn

Hi Glenn: for what it's worth, aphids are virus vectors happily transmitting viruses from one site to another. Believe it or not, the little buggers are born pregnant, the females (of course). i've had very good luck with insecticidal soaps, some claim that simply knocking them off the plant is sufficient as they can't/won't go back to the plant. I find that hard to believe besides, the winged ones can fly.

That aphid is usually rosy apple aphid; they are pink in color. I always have some branches of that but it usually does not get too out of hand since the ladybugs keep them in check. Soap or oil does not work unless you unroll the leaves by hand and spray each one. Any strong bug killer will work. These days all I do is prune off any tip with a really bad infection; I view it as part of my summer pruning program. I have a similar leaf curling aphid on the cherries that is black; it is much worse because it will hit the whole tree and this rosy apple aphid usually only does a couple branch tips on a whole tree.

Scott

All great information. Thanks again guys!
-Glenn

Re: Spitzenberg and Fireblight

I've been very lucky to only have one withered branch on my Spitz in twelve years - this year. And with 250+ bagged apples on it this season, I'm looking forward to the best tasting apple I've ever tasted.

Generally, FB has not been a serious issue in my orchard. It has, however, repeatedly struck my big G. Delicious this year. I've stayed on it and pruned them out, all the while keeping an eye on my Spitz, Fuji, and Mutsu, as they are all prone to infection.

Anyway, I've also been dealing with the curly leaves and aphid damage. Next year, I'm going "BP" on the orchard with dormant oil! Spray, baby, spray!

Herbert
Mineral Bluff, GA