What's eating my red currant?

Red currants are targeted by currant aphids that distort new leaves, gooseberry sawfly caterpillars that rapidly strip foliage, and birds that devour the ripening fruit. Currant clearwing moth tunnels into stems. Net fruit trusses early and inspect undersides of leaves weekly from late spring for sawfly eggs.

Caterpillars rapidly skeletonise leaves from the centre of the bush outward, leaving only leaf veins; severe defoliation weakens the plant. Check leaf undersides for pale green caterpillars from April onward; hand-pick early infestations; spray with pyrethrin or a fatty-acid insecticide at first sign.

Red or yellow blisters on upper leaf surfaces, caused by colonies feeding on undersides; leaves pucker and young shoots distort. Inspect undersides of leaves in spring; blast colonies off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil early in the season before populations build.

Strip ripening berries from fruit trusses, sometimes taking fruit before it fully colours up. Drape fine netting over the bush as soon as fruits begin to colour; remove netting after harvest to avoid entangling beneficial birds.

Larvae tunnel inside stems, causing wilting or die-back of individual shoots. Prune and destroy affected stems below the entry hole in autumn or winter; pheromone traps can monitor adult flight and time interventions.