In article , Aaron wrote:
Entymologists are hard to reach and often want
a fee for their service

Ah. I was thinking more of asking in sci.bio.entomology. Much cheaper. 8-)

My best guess now is that these are the
over wintering eggs of the European red mite,

Looks a possible, doesn't it? The location of the eggs is unusual, though.
Perhaps they were misplaced summer eggs, which apparently tend to be on
the underside of the apple leaves.

Roger