Give Me Spots on My Apples

In the days before supermarkets had all-but-eliminated the independent green-grocer in UK, there was quite an effort to introduce this apple variety to the country. It was originally bred in Japan, a cross between Golden Delicious and an older Japanese variety. In Japan it was called Mutsu, but that name was considered unappealing to UK customers, so it was marketed as 'Crispin'

It never took off. It is a 'dual-purpose' apple, that can be used as a cooking apple - it's structure breaks down in the way that a British cooking apple is expected to do - or, after a short time in store, as a rather bland eating apple, but it excells in neither realm

We did not plan to grow it; we ordered another variety but, when the tree reached fruiting age, we realised what it is. For whatever reason, it has adored this year: I have never seen an apple tree laden with so many apples. Of course, in consequence, they are not very big, but we picked the biggest and will enjoy their contrast with other varieties. If it had a school report, teacher's comment would be "tries hard" 

The insect is a 'Forest Bug' (Pentatoma rufipes), a fairly common shield beetle, notable for its power-shoulders and orange spot. It is regarded as a commercial 'pest' because it sucks on the sap of deciduous trees, especially oak, but also apple. It doesn't appear to have done the Crispin much harm and, for all that it is common, I think it looks magnificent