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Raspberry beetles have ruined my whole crop

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  • #1

    Raspberry beetles have ruined my whole crop

    I've grown summer ones for many years with no problems but 2 weeks ago I was inspecting my canes for any very early ones ready to eat when I noticed several berries on the floor and after much rummaging found the beetles.
    Since then 80% have fallen off.

    I was given 2 autumn canes in April so I'm guessing they came in with them.

    What do I do to brake the cycle please. I only garden organic.
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  • #2
    I'm a bit puzzled by this as the raspberry beetle lays its eggs on the fruit and the larvae then burrow into the ripening fruit. It isn't usual for this to cause fruit to drop
    Last edited by Aberdeenplotter; 26-06-2011, 09:24 PM.

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    • #3
      It's more likely heat/drought causing the berries to drop...?
      All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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      • #4
        Thanks for the replies.

        I've been growing them here for 20 years, and had all sorts of weather problems before which has never caused this to happen.

        Inside each fruit that comes off with a light touch I can see a larvae and found loads of beetles too on the leaves, which I have now got rid of.

        Although its hot today we've had plenty of rain recently and did have strong winds (well for London!) so maybe they were knocked off by that.

        I've picked them all up off the ground but some had no bugs so I'm guessing they have gone into the soil, but most still had them inside so they have gone in the bin.

        I love raspberries and am gutted that I'm going to have to buy them this year.

        Any ideas what to do now gratefully received.

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        • #5
          I've never had a problem with this pest on my raspberries but I do get it in my loganberris and tayberries. Most unsightly, but with the length of the berries, you can cut off the top part where the beetle is and still have something to use. A couple of years ago it got so bad that I was throwing away more that I kept so I bought a feromone trap from Harrod Horticultural. I think it made a bit of difference because the infestation was greatly reduced and this year's pest numbers seem to be down also.

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          • #6
            Link here for you http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/H...pberry_Beetle/ takes you to the Harrod Horticulture site
            Last edited by rustylady; 27-06-2011, 11:34 AM.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Tadpole123 View Post

              Any ideas what to do now gratefully received.
              It's such a shame isn't it? I've given up on summer rasps because of the maggots, now only grow autumn fruiters
              All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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              • #8
                According to this site:Control Lily and Viburnum Beetle by spraying with this natural protector Spray based on pyrethrum - natures own insecticide. Use it to also control Raspberry Beetle, Greenfly and Blackfly, Whitefly and Flea Beetle. Lily Beetle Spray is supplied in a



                Raspberry Beetle - The beetles emerge from the ground in the spring and start to feed on the raspberry flowers. This is also where they lay their eggs. The eggs hatch and the larval stage then feed on the developing fruit. Any unpicked fruit then falls to the ground, allowing the larvae to enter the soil where it then lives until the following spring. The whole process is then repeated. To control raspberry beetle position a Raspberry Beetle Trap to monitor the number of beetles on your raspberry crop and then spray with Lily Beetle Spray when the beetles are present. Each trap protects 50sqm and attracts the beetles in two ways. The crossed vanes appear to the beetle like a giant raspberry flower and the trap contains a scented lure. The beetles are attracted and fall into the trap. Place the trap amonst your raspberries 1m above ground, 4-6 weeks before flowering and leave it in postion until flowering is complete. Each week count the number of beetles in the trap & if there are less than 5 beetles per week in the run up to flowering - do nothing, but if there are more than 5 beetles per week use Lily Beetle Spray to control the beetles.

                So it would appear that they do fall to the ground.
                If it was just a few weeks later there wouldn't have been any left for the to get into!


                Do Autumn ones have less problems? I'm prepared to scrap all my summer ones if needed and get autumn ones instead.

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                • #9
                  "any unpicked fruit falls to the ground" ... that says to me, and is my experience, that the maggot continues to live in the fruit on the plant until the fruit is ripe and then either gets picked, or goes over and drops

                  I used to get maggots in all the summer ones (they didn't drop) - as I said, I now only grow autumn ones, because they miss maggot season
                  All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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                  • #10
                    Autumn ones it is then. I'll freecycle the first year canes from my summer ones later in the year.

                    Which ones do you recommend?

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post
                      "any unpicked fruit falls to the ground" ... that says to me, and is my experience, that the maggot continues to live in the fruit on the plant until the fruit is ripe and then either gets picked, or goes over and drops
                      Yes, that is my understanding also. Fruit will not drop because of the impact of the raspberry beetle, it drops because it is ripe (but we would probably class it as over ripe).

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post
                        I've given up on summer rasps because of the maggots, now only grow autumn fruiters
                        After a brilliant crop this year of lovely Tulameen raspberries and an on-going battle with our fruit addicted family of 6 blackbirds, we've got the first signs of raspberry beetle. It's not on the Tulameen (yet), but on another summer variety. Our granddaughter was picking some yesterday and discovered "some black bits" at the top of the fruit, with one or two black drupelets. On opening them up, we found a raspberry beetle larvae in each one. Needless to say, she didn't want any more. She wandered off to the strawberry patch to scold the blackbirds.

                        As TS says, it's such a shame. I'll try and take preventative measures next year as I don't want to give up the Tulameen.

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                        • #13
                          I agree with Speed Gardener. Last year my Raspberries had a horrible time with Raspberry beetles but this year I bought a pheromone trap to warn me when the little blighters were about so I could quickly react to them and I'm getting a lovely crop.

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                          • #14
                            Funnily enough, I normally have a problem with the little blighters but not this year - so far. maybe the extremes of winter did the trick.

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                            • #15
                              I was in the garden earlier tonight, tidying up before the forecasted rain and noticed the Tulameens now have them too.

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