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Miss Shaped Pears

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From: Susan Roberts City: Arlington Heights, IL
The home we moved into has a old pear tree. It is extremely healthy, leaves look great. Lots of fruit however about 80% of the pears are miss shaped with a "dimple". There are no bugs or worms that we can see. Should we spray the tree? If so when and with what? Your help is appreciated. I can find no solution from all of my googling! I do have a picture if that would help. Regards, Susan
	Extension Message From: Richard Hentschel Extension Educator, Horticulture DuPage/Kane/Kendall Unit hentsche@illinois.edu
Hello Susan, I believe you are describing the damage caused by the Tarnished Plant Bug. Feeding sites stop growing while the fruit cells surrounding it continue, causing the dipple. Fruits can be eaten fresh or used in cooking. You will need to protect the young fruits from the feeding of this insect with a cover spray repeated several times starting when the fruit tree buds are just opening. Most home orchard style sprays contain both fungicides and insectides.
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