What's eating my dewberry?

Dewberry (Rubus caesius), a low-growing wild and cultivated Rubus, is attacked by raspberry beetle larvae in berries, spotted wing drosophila, aphids on trailing shoots, and birds. Its low habit makes it extra accessible to slugs and snails on developing fruit. Raspberry beetle is the predominant fruiting-season pest.

Grubs inside ripening drupelets; hollow or partially eaten fruit at harvest. Spray insecticide at first pink fruit; winter-cultivate soil around plants to break pupation cycle.

Irregular holes in low-lying ripening fruit; slime trails on foliage and stems. Use iron phosphate slug pellets around plants; apply copper tape to raised beds; set beer traps; encourage hedgehogs and ground beetles.

Curled, sticky shoot tips on new trailing growth; sooty mould deposits. Spray insecticidal soap early in the season; encourage natural predators.

Ripe berries picked off; significant crop loss especially in open beds. Drape fine-gauge netting over canes at colour change; peg edges to the ground to prevent access.