What's eating my plum 'victoria'?

Victoria plum is one of the most pest-susceptible plum varieties. Plum moth ruins fruit, and brown rot spreads through larval entry wounds. Bullfinches strip flower buds in winter. Aphids distort young growth heavily in spring. Pheromone traps for plum moth and bud guards for bullfinches are the two non-negotiable interventions.

Pinkish-white larvae inside ripe fruit tunnelling around the stone; affected plums drop early or harbour a maggot discovered at harvest Hang pheromone traps from late May to September to reduce mating; pyrethrin sprays are of limited effectiveness but can reduce egg-laying; remove fallen fruit daily in July–August

White, waxy-coated aphids on the undersides of leaves from May; leaves roll and yellow; heavy honeydew leads to sooty mould on fruit Apply insecticidal soap or neem-oil spray when colonies appear; plant-oil winter wash to kill overwintering eggs; encourage beneficial insects

Flower buds pecked out from January to March, removing entire fruiting potential for the season; Victoria is a prime target Net the tree with fine bird netting from November to late March; reflective tape may provide some deterrence; no lethal control permitted

Ripe Victoria plums (August) attacked and hollowed out; wasp entry wounds allow brown rot fungus to rapidly destroy the crop Hang sugar-water wasp traps in July; harvest fruit promptly as it ripens; remove windfalls immediately; net lower branches if practical