What is the problem with my young apple tree?
It sounds like some type of burrowing leaf miner insect, though you normally see damage on both sides of leaves with this, so I’m a little uncertain. As next door’s tree has a similar problem – infestation – I’d ask them if they’ve had this problem before: my guess is that it overwintered from last year, or previous years. It may not be an insect that only feeds on apple trees, though it may have a preference for them. Some example of leaf miner damage on apple and other plants is shown here: http://www.canr.msu.edu/vanburen/fstlm.h… My solution to eradicating them is to ensure that you destroy all fallen leaves this autumn, so that they can’t overwinter amongst them, ready to lay eggs next year. If you do apply an insecticide don’t use the same type more than twice, as resistance can develop to it. I’d wait now until next year’s leaf growth to see if it recurs, and then treat it twice at 10 day intervals. Ensure t
