What's eating my damson 'shropshire'?

Damson 'Shropshire Prune' is susceptible to the classic Prunus pests: mealy plum aphids curl leaves in spring, plum moth larvae tunnel ripe fruit, and winter moth caterpillars shred buds. Silver leaf disease (a fungal wound pathogen) is an additional Prunus-specific risk. Aphids cause the most annual damage.

Powdery grey colonies on undersides of leaves; leaf curl; copious honeydew and sooty mould. Neem oil or insecticidal soap spray at bud burst. Support parasitic wasps and ladybirds. Avoid over-feeding with nitrogen.

Maggot-infested fruit with entry-hole frass; premature fruit drop. Pheromone traps from May to guide timing of insecticide application or to assess pressure. Remove dropped fruit daily.

Blossom and leaf buds destroyed in early spring; heavily infested trees fail to set fruit. Grease bands on trunk and stakes from October. Bt spray at green-tip stage.

Leaves develop a silvery sheen; branch die-back; purple bracket fungus on dead wood. Prune only in summer (June–August) when spores are fewer. Cut back to clean white wood; seal large wounds. Remove infected branches and bin them.