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problem raspberries

Mandy12Mandy12 Posts: 14
in Problem solving

I have a bumper crop of raspberries this year, growing glen moy and glen ample. I have noticed brown crusty marks on the tops when I pick them. the leaves on my plants seem to be being eaten away too. I have fed and watered the plants regularly. I also noticed a bug under a leaf, 3 or 4 mm long black with orange markings. Could this be my problem? If so, what is it and can the problem be cured.

Yours hopefully

Mandy

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,253

    Raspberry beetles. The larvae burrow into the fruit starting at the flower end. The result is  the brown hard bits around the fruit.

    Pick off any larvae or beetles you find.  Brown with orange markings might be ladybird larvae, looking for aphids

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    Type "ladybird larvae image" into google - is that what you saw?  If so, excellent news.

    The crusty tops could have been caused by aphids which that ladybird larvae are now eating for you.image

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Mandy12Mandy12 Posts: 14

    Thanks for that. I won't need to get rid and start again then, she asks hopefully ! Is there a spray I can use?

  • Mandy12Mandy12 Posts: 14

    I don't think they were ladybird larvae unfortunately, nor did it look like a raspberry beetle. Totally stumped!!!!

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,253

    You can use pyrethrum, but you have to leave a gap between spraying and picking.

  • Mandy12Mandy12 Posts: 14

    Thanks. I have photos but not sure how to get them onto this site. Any ideas?

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    If you are on a PC, click the little green tree when replying and browse to wherever you have saved the photos on your computer, then click Upload image.  If using an Apple device you need to upload first to a photo site like Picasa and then use the link to the image.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Mandy12Mandy12 Posts: 14

    image

     

    image

    Not sure if you can see these photos but here goes!

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    That is a Harlequin ladybird larva.  Not the best type to have as they eat other ladybirds when they run out of aphids, but at least they do eat aphids!

    PS, the top image is one that is in metamorphosis (ie a pupa) and an adult Harlequin will soon pop-out.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Mandy12Mandy12 Posts: 14

    Thank you Bob. I will keep an eye of them now and enjoy eating my raspberries.

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