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Damage (Apple Sawfly)
- The egg-laying slit in the side of the flower soon turns brown and this is readily visible as an early sign of infestation.
- Young larvae tunnel just beneath the surface of the skin of developing fruitlets leaving characteristic ribbon scars.
- Larvae bite large cavities inside fruitlets, consuming the flesh and the seeds and producing masses of wet, brown-black frass which is exuded through a large hole in the side of the fruitlet.
- Fruitlets with ribbon scars may remain on the tree until harvest but those with more severe damage fall from the tree.
- Losses can be severe, particularly when the amount of blossom or crop set is light.
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