A recent tour through the orchard revealed some new pests: Worms busily devouring every leaf on every apple tree they could. These worms could be identified quite easily, although I haven't bothered to do so. They were getting fat on the leaves and had grown to 1-1/2 to 2" long. They have a red, shiny head and a nice set of jaws with which they were doing their damage. Entire branches have been stipped of leaves, and on two branches, clusters of these devils were wreaking havoc.
Of course, they are history now. The apple trees will recover and grow new leaves soon enough. Hopefully some will reappear before the first frost of the year, which could happen anytime now. I made a second tour through the orchard and found two more of the nasty critters, which I promptly dispatched.
Usually, I try to walk through the orchard at least once a day, although I am known to be out there tending to the trees two or three times a day, as well. Each tree is like a child, I've been told, requiring constant watching and supervision. That may be, but it's not the trees I worry about, it's all the pesky critters that manage to show up whenever I'm not looking. That's what's eating out in the orchard.
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