What's eating my beach strawberry?

Beach strawberry, native to Pacific coastal dunes, faces similar pests to cultivated strawberries but tends to be more vigorous and resilient. Spider mites are the key pest in warm, dry coastal summers. Slugs attack in wetter months. Spotted wing drosophila targets the small, sweet fruit. Shore birds and small mammals also raid ripe berries.

Stippled, bronzed leaves; reduced vigour; particularly severe in the dry, warm coastal summers where this species grows natively Predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis); overhead misting; neem oil or insecticidal soap; avoid plant water stress which worsens outbreaks

Larvae inside ripe fruit cause rapid softening; beach strawberry's small size makes infestation hard to detect until the berry collapses Harvest frequently; monitor with fermented-bait traps; spinosad spray if monitoring shows high adult numbers before fruit softens

Holes chewed into berries at or near ground level; damage worst in foggy, damp coastal conditions typical of this plant's habitat Iron phosphate slug pellets; diatomaceous earth around plant crowns; reduce dense groundcover mulch where slugs hide