What's eating my egremont russet apple?

Egremont Russet is a classic English dessert apple targeted by codling moth caterpillars — the main cause of maggoty fruit. Woolly aphids attack bark and shoots; apple scab and mildew reduce yields but so do rosy apple aphids distorting young leaves. Deer and rabbits browse bark and shoots on young trees, especially in winter.

Caterpillars tunnel into ripening fruit leaving a brown core and exit hole; maggoty apples Hang pheromone traps from late May; apply codling moth granulosis virus spray (e.g., Madex HP) from petal fall; collect and destroy fallen fruit

White fluffy colonies on bark, shoots and around pruning wounds; galls and canker-like swellings develop Scrub colonies off with a stiff brush dipped in insecticidal soap; spray with plant-oil-based product; encourage natural predators (earwigs, parasitic wasps)

Tightly curled, distorted leaves in spring; fruit becomes small and misshapen; pink-grey aphids Apply winter wash (plant oil) while dormant; in spring use insecticidal soap targeting colonies before leaves curl around them

Bark gnawed (rabbits) or stripped at low height; shoots browsed; young trees can be ring-barked and killed Fit spiral rabbit guards and tree shelters on young trees; use deer-proof fencing around the orchard; check guards annually as trees grow