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Pear Pests

Gardening Guide: Picture Perfect Pear Guide: All You Need to Know About Growing, Harvesting, Cooking, and Eating Delicious Pears

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Pear Pests

By Norann Oleson

Pear psylla on a pear.

Pear psylla on a pear.

Pear trees may fall victim to local wildlife: rabbits love bark and young branches, and deer love pears. So, consider some chicken wire or netting to protect your crop.

Other pests are harder to control—and often harder to spot.

Pear Psylla look like tiny cicadas. They’re active any time the temperature rises above 40 degrees F. When their eggs hatch, yellowish, wingless nymphs work their way to succulent stems and developing leaves. The nymphs feed on plant sap and secrete a lot of “honeydew,” which drops on leaves and fruit. The honeydew in turn provides a rich growing ground for a sooty black fungus.

There are usually four generations of pear psylla a year. Pear psylla can severely damage a tree, causing partial or complete defoliation, damaged fruit, and reduced fruit production the next year. There’s some evidence that pear psylla may also help transmit fire blight. Contact your local nursery for the best way to address any current pear psylla infestations and for tips on preventing future infections.

Pear Slugs only look like slugs for a short time; they’re actually a type of sawfly. The adults are tiny: just 1/5 inch long. In the spring, the females lay  two to five eggs per leaf. The larvae are shiny and slug-like, about 1/3 inch long. The larvae eat the leaves, leaving nothing behind but the veins. The mature larvae eventually drop to the ground and burrow into the soil to pupate, paving the way for a second infestation.

Second-generation pear slug damage is often worse than the first infestation. An infested tree may have reduced growth the following year. For tips on how best to address pear slugs on your trees, check with your local nursery or extension center.

Other pear tree pests include aphids, caterpillars, codling moth, pear blister mite, pear midge, and the pear and cherry slug worm.

Have your pear trees been affected by any pests? How have you handled treating or preventing pests on your pear trees? Please share your experiences with everyone in the comments below.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Curator’s Corner
  • Introduction
  • Featured Articles

  • Types of Pear Trees
  • Ornamental Nuisances: Flowering Pear Trees
  • Picking the Right Size Pear Tree
  • Training and Pruning your Pear Trees
  • Pairing Up For Pear Pollination
  • Pear Trees by Size and Form
  • A Word About Planning Your Pear Use
  • Choosing to Grow Pears from Seeds or Seedlings
  • Growing Pears in Open Land, in Containers, or in Raised Beds
  • Starting with the Right Soil for Your Pear Trees
  • The Right Sunlight for Your Pears
  • Should You Fertilize Your Pear Trees?
  • How—and When—to Water Your Pear Trees
  • Picking the Perfect Pear
  • How to Spot, Treat, and Prevent Pear Diseases and Pest Infestations
  • Post-Harvest Pear Crop Infections
  • Pear Pests
  • Basic Preventive Measures to Avoid Pear Tree Diseases
  • Essential Tools and Equipment for Growing and Enjoying Pears
  • Plant Profiles

  • Shinseiki Pear: Pyrus pyrifolia “Shinseiki” (Asian Pear)
  • Nijisseiki Pear: Pyrus pyrifolia “Nijisseiki” (Asian Pear)
  • Hosui Pear: Pyrus pyrifolia “Hosui” (Asian Pear)
  • Chojuro Pear: Pyrus pyrifolia “Chojuro” (Asian Pear)
  • Red Sensation Pear: Pyrus communis “Red Sensation” (European Pear)
  • Red Clapp’s Favorite Pear: Pyrus communis “Red Clapp’s Favorite” (European Pear)
  • Orient Pear: Pyrus communis “Orient” (European Pear)
  • Moonglow Pear: Pyrus communis “Moonglow” (European Pear)
  • Kieffer Pear: Pyrus communis “Kieffer” (European Pear)
  • Harrow Sweet Pear: Pyrus communis “Harrow Sweet” (European Pear)
  • Comice Pear: Pyrus communis “Comice” (European Pear)
  • Bosc Pear: Pyrus communis “Bosc” (European Pear)
  • Bartlett Pear: Pyrus communis “Bartlett” (European Pear)
  • Anjou Pear: Pyrus communis “Anjou” (European Pear)
  • Recipes

  • Chocolate Pear Cake
  • Fruit Leather
  • Pear Jam
  • Vanilla Poached Pears with Chocolate Sauce
  • Spiced Poached Pears
  • Pear Crisp
  • Additional Articles

  • Nutrition Facts about Pears
  • Health Benefits of Pears
  • Resources about Pears
  • Pear Glossary
  • Related Articles

  • Picture Perfect Pear Guide—All You Need to Know About Growing, Harvesting, Cooking, and Eating Delicious Pears

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