Pest identification
What's eating my ben sarek blackcurrant?
Currant aphid (Cryptomyzus ribis)
Signs: Red blistering and puckering of upper leaf surface; dense aphid colonies on leaf undersides in spring.
Control: Insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; encourage natural predators; knock off colonies with water.
Gooseberry sawfly (Nematus ribesii)
Signs: Pale green caterpillars skeletonise foliage rapidly, starting mid-bush where they hide from view.
Control: Hand-pick larvae and egg clusters; apply pyrethrin-based spray for heavy infestations.
Big bud mite (Cecidophyopsis ribis)
Signs: Buds swell abnormally round in winter and fail to break; vector for blackcurrant reversion virus.
Control: Prune off and destroy swollen buds; replace heavily infested plants with certified virus-free stock.
Birds
Signs: Berries pecked and stripped at ripening.
Control: Drape fine-mesh fruit netting over the bush once fruits begin to colour.
Keep ben sarek blackcurrant pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Ben Sarek Blackcurrant pests — FAQ
What is eating my ben sarek blackcurrant?
Ben Sarek Blackcurrant faces the same core pest pressure as other blackcurrants: currant aphids blister spring foliage, gooseberry sawfly larvae can strip bushes overnight, big bud mite causes failed round buds, and birds take ripe fruit. Net at fruiting and monitor buds closely each winter.
How do I get rid of currant aphid (cryptomyzus ribis) on ben sarek blackcurrant?
Red blistering and puckering of upper leaf surface; dense aphid colonies on leaf undersides in spring. Insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; encourage natural predators; knock off colonies with water.
How do I get rid of gooseberry sawfly (nematus ribesii) on ben sarek blackcurrant?
Pale green caterpillars skeletonise foliage rapidly, starting mid-bush where they hide from view. Hand-pick larvae and egg clusters; apply pyrethrin-based spray for heavy infestations.
How do I get rid of big bud mite (cecidophyopsis ribis) on ben sarek blackcurrant?
Buds swell abnormally round in winter and fail to break; vector for blackcurrant reversion virus. Prune off and destroy swollen buds; replace heavily infested plants with certified virus-free stock.
How do I get rid of birds on ben sarek blackcurrant?
Berries pecked and stripped at ripening. Drape fine-mesh fruit netting over the bush once fruits begin to colour.