Pest identification
What's eating my star apple?
Caribbean fruit fly (Anastrepha suspensa) and related spp.
Signs: Sting marks on fruit skin; maggot-infested pulp; premature fruit drop
Control: Protein bait traps; harvest promptly when fruit softens; remove all fallen fruit; fruit bagging where feasible
Scale insects (Coccidae)
Signs: Waxy brown shells on branches; yellowing leaves; sooty mold from honeydew
Control: Horticultural oil spray during crawler stage; prune congested branches
Mealybugs
Signs: Cottony white masses at branch forks and leaf axils; weakened new growth
Control: Neem oil or insecticidal soap; control ant populations that protect colonies
Keep star apple pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Star Apple pests — FAQ
What is eating my star apple?
Star Apple (Chrysophyllum cainito) is most damaged by the Caribbean fruit fly and related Anastrepha species, whose larvae ruin the sweet pulp. Scale insects and mealybugs colonize branches, and bark borers occasionally attack the trunk. Birds peck ripe fruit on the tree. The thick latex skin provides some natural deterrence against surface-feeding insects.
How do I get rid of caribbean fruit fly (anastrepha suspensa) and related spp. on star apple?
Sting marks on fruit skin; maggot-infested pulp; premature fruit drop Protein bait traps; harvest promptly when fruit softens; remove all fallen fruit; fruit bagging where feasible
How do I get rid of scale insects (coccidae) on star apple?
Waxy brown shells on branches; yellowing leaves; sooty mold from honeydew Horticultural oil spray during crawler stage; prune congested branches
How do I get rid of mealybugs on star apple?
Cottony white masses at branch forks and leaf axils; weakened new growth Neem oil or insecticidal soap; control ant populations that protect colonies