What's eating my boysenberry?

Boysenberry (a Rubus hybrid) is bothered mainly by raspberry beetle larvae in fruit, aphids on young canes, spotted wing drosophila in ripe berries, and birds stripping the crop. Raspberry cane midge can damage new growth. Birds are often the most immediate fruiting-season threat.

Grubs inside ripening berries; white maggots found at harvest; fruits hollow or sticky. Spray with an approved insecticide (e.g., deltamethrin) at first pink fruit. Cultivate soil around canes in winter to expose pupae to birds and frost.

Soft, collapsing berries; tiny maggots inside ripe and near-ripe fruit; rapid deterioration. Pick fruit as soon as ripe; use fine insect-proof mesh over fruiting canes. Dispose of damaged fruit in sealed bags, not compost.

Sticky, curled shoot tips; stunted new growth; virus transmission risk. Rub off small colonies by hand; spray insecticidal soap early in season. Remove virus-infected canes entirely.

Ripe berries eaten or knocked off; significant crop loss over a few days. Net with fine-gauge fruit-cage netting at colour change; check daily to prevent bird entrapment.