Yellow jackets

[NorthWI]

Anyone find it better to leave damaged apples that are being eaten by yellow jackets on the tree or remove them? Asking for a home tree that is easy to get at. I was thinking if I keep them on the tree they would be less likely to ruin others. But maybe I'm just letting the tree pump energy into damaged apples. Any thoughts?

 

[Native Hunter]

My thoughts are to leave the damaged apples due to what you said about being less likely to ruin others. I'm almost certain that is the thing to do when Junebugs come because of how a bunch of them tend to zero in on the same apple. I'm not worried about pumping energy into damaged apples, because I don't think that will make a lot of difference.

 

[Prof.Kent]

I think it depends on what you're growing the apples for. If you want large apples, always thin damaged ones whenever you find them.
My belief is that a bird's peck causes the opening in the apple skin that wasps and hornets take advantage of, but any imperfection probably gives a location to excavate.

Make a hornet trap to get rid of hornets.