If you are tired of spraying apple trees, or have given up spraying all together only to find the bulk of your crop infested with apple maggots, you might want to try a new method currently being tested by a number of backyard apple growers in our viewing area for controlling this nuisance pest - placing apples in plastic Baggies

The apple maggot emerges about the first of July. The female lays her eggs under the skin of the apple. After these eggs hatch in 5-10 days, the maggots feed on the flesh leaving the tell tale brown tunnels.

By placing a plastic sandwich bag or a ziplock bag over the individual apple[1], it prevents the female from depositing her eggs,. Secure the bag with a twist tie, or staple it closed. Then with scissors, clip the bottom corners to allow rain water to drain out of the bag. The timing for applying the bags is critical - the apples should be about the size of a quarter, the June drop of aborted apples should be nearly over, and the date should be before July 1st.

The fruit will continue to grow and mature inside the bag. Come fall you will harvest juicy sweet worm free apples[2]. There is no need to bag every apple - select what you think you will use, and let the rest go.