My black cherry tree from a novice, black fly and growth

[Nick cowap]

Needs some help and advice please, firstly , I think I have a full on black fly infestation , curled sticky leaves, cover in black mites, lots of ladybirds around too (no ants anywhere, seems that’s a point lots bring up) what to do , will it wreck the tree, this is the first decent fruiting year since I planted 2 and half years ago , if I leave it will it survive
R do I need to treat it somehow, bit of a shame as I grew it in the hope that the kids would just pick the cherries off and eat them . Second point , most of the Cherries on it have grown near the trunk or at the start of the branches almost none at the end of the branches which I was surprised at , do I cut the tree back at any point or do something to promote its growth, I left and supported half a dozen very low branches but not sure i should keep them on, it’s about 10 feet tall now have pictures if anyone can help thanks

[nickdub]

Don't cut it back unless there is an obvious disease - cherries fruit mainly on the previous season's growth, so the new part now will fruit next year.

Try a spray from a hose to see if you can knock the blackfly off first - if that's unsuccessful a little washing up liquid in warm water put on with a paint brush ought to do the trick - whatever happens it won't ruin the tree, just a nuisance mostly.

[Jungle Jane]

You could also have ladybird nymphs their colour blends into the blackness from the black aphids/flys. Photo from September last year,they’re smaller than this when they’re smaller