What Is Flyspeck Apple

The individual “fly specks” are sexual fruiting bodies (ascocarps) of the fungus. Starting in late spring, the fungus produces spores on wild hosts. These spores are carried by wind into the orchard. When spores come into contact with the fruit under the proper environmental conditions, they germinate and infect.

Is it safe to eat an apple with flyspeck?

Once flyspeck is active in your apple tree, it’s too late to treat it, but don’t stress — the apples that are affected are perfectly edible if you peel them first. Long-term management of flyspeck should focus on reducing the humidity inside the apple tree’s canopy and increasing air circulation.

What does sooty blotch look like?

Sooty blotch, as the name implies, shows up as dark brown to black smudges. The blotches range in size from half-inch-diameter circles to smears that can cover half the apple surface. Some blotches are so faint they are barely visible. Flyspeck also resembles its name.