I live in Spokane WA and was told by a worker with an agriculture program here that if you paint about 2 feet up on the trunk of an apple tree with latex paint that it will keep the worms out of the apples. Is this true? Sounds silly to me, but if it works I'm willing to try it!:confused:

Some articles say that painting tree trunks with whitewash or white water-based latex paint may help repel the adult beetles, especially on young trees. Insecticide sprays are usually not very effective.

Use either a limestone wash or latex diluted with equal parts of water.

Most fruit worms are larvae from flying insects, and the paint wouldn't stop them from flying to your apple tree. I have heard that this works for things like Gypsy Moth Caterpillars, which will climb the tree and eat the leaves, but they usually go after hardwoods and I don't really know if it works. If you use insecticide, make sure you don't spray while the trees are in bloom or you will kill the bees and won't get any apples. Good luck.