What is Apple Maggot?
Apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella Walsh) is a native pest of the Eastern United States and Canada. In 1979 it was discovered in Oregon and has since moved into California, Washington, and other Western states. Commercial North Coast apple orchards under conventional pest management are less likely to have problems with apple maggot, because pesticides used for codling moth and aphids will control it. The presence of apple maggot in backyard orchards is considered a serious threat to organic apple production because organic growers would be adversely affected. The pest is capable of destroying fruit in organic commercial orchards. It is of the utmost importance to be able to identify the pest as early as possible, so that management strategies are more likely to succeed. Fruit from backyard trees should not be moved offsite. Please, do not give away fruit from your orchard. Early stages of apple maggot damage are difficult to detect, as apples appear normal. They may be transported and
