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Pear trees can be attacked by a range of pests but few cause real problems
The most troublesome pests are gall midge and leaf blister mite.
Grey aphids and winter moth caterpillars are quite common but not as troublesome.
Fruit can also be damaged by codling moth caterpillars, wasps and birds.
Gall midge
Gall midge is a tiny fly that lays eggs on the unopened flower buds hatching into orange-white maggots up to 3mm long, these feed on the young embryo.
The affected fruit becomes enlarged then turns black.
In late May to June, large numbers of young fruit drop from the tree. The maggots within crawl into the soil to pupate.
To control future problems, pick off and destroy the infected fruit before they drop.
Note; Small trees can be sprayed with a suitable insecticide when the blossom is at the white-bud stage.
Leaf blister mite;
These mites live within the foliage, and several generations can occur during summer
The problem is first recognised in spring when the new foliage develops pink or pale green blotches that gradually become brownish black.
During the growing season the tree/s can develop an generally unhealthy appearance, however this disfigurement seems to have little effect on overall vigour and the fruit is not affected.
There are no effective pesticides for the amateur gardener and the only recourse is to remove affected leaves or shoots.
Pear Rust;
Unlike many forms of rust, this pathogen requires two hosts to complete its life cycle, namely Pear and Juniper.
The fungus first appears as orange spots on the upper leaf surface of pear trees, with corresponding brown growths underneath.
The spores produced on these leaf spots are then windswept on to Junipers.
Once affected; spindle-shaped swellings appear on the stems of junipers from which spores are produced, and in turn are blown back to re-infect the pears.
Depending upon weather conditions these spores can travel up to 6 km (3miles), meaning both species need not be in the same garden to infect each other.
There are no approved fungicides available to the amateur gardener, but those labelled for pear scab and powdery mildew will give some control.
If practical; the removal of junipers or pruning out of infections may give some control.
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