Pest identification
What's eating my tulameen raspberry?
Raspberry beetle (Byturus tomentosus)
Signs: White grubs tunnel inside ripe berries, discovered at harvest; adult feeding notches leaves in early summer.
Control: Hang pheromone traps from late May; spray with pyrethrin at 80% petal fall if infestation is heavy; pick and destroy wormy fruit.
Aphids (Amphorophora idaei and others)
Signs: Colonies cluster on shoot tips and undersides of young leaves, causing distortion, sticky honeydew, and sooty mold; also vector raspberry mosaic virus.
Control: Blast off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage ladybirds and lacewings as natural predators.
Birds (especially starlings, blackbirds)
Signs: Ripe berries stripped from canes rapidly at harvest, sometimes entire clusters taken overnight.
Control: Drape fine-mesh fruit netting (20 mm or smaller) over canes from the moment fruits start to color; remove promptly after harvest.
Raspberry cane midge (Resseliella theobaldi)
Signs: Tiny larval feeding creates entry points for cane blight fungus; canes develop dark purplish-brown patches and die back.
Control: Remove and burn affected canes; avoid wounding canes during training; pyrethrin spray at bud burst reduces adult emergence.
Keep tulameen raspberry pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Tulameen Raspberry pests — FAQ
What is eating my tulameen raspberry?
Tulameen raspberry is targeted by aphids, raspberry beetle, and spider mites, plus birds and deer raiding ripe canes. Aphids are the most persistent indoor and outdoor threat. Net fruiting canes against birds, use pheromone traps for raspberry beetle, and knock aphids off with a strong water jet or insecticidal soap.
How do I get rid of raspberry beetle (byturus tomentosus) on tulameen raspberry?
White grubs tunnel inside ripe berries, discovered at harvest; adult feeding notches leaves in early summer. Hang pheromone traps from late May; spray with pyrethrin at 80% petal fall if infestation is heavy; pick and destroy wormy fruit.
How do I get rid of aphids (amphorophora idaei and others) on tulameen raspberry?
Colonies cluster on shoot tips and undersides of young leaves, causing distortion, sticky honeydew, and sooty mold; also vector raspberry mosaic virus. Blast off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage ladybirds and lacewings as natural predators.
How do I get rid of birds (especially starlings, blackbirds) on tulameen raspberry?
Ripe berries stripped from canes rapidly at harvest, sometimes entire clusters taken overnight. Drape fine-mesh fruit netting (20 mm or smaller) over canes from the moment fruits start to color; remove promptly after harvest.
How do I get rid of raspberry cane midge (resseliella theobaldi) on tulameen raspberry?
Tiny larval feeding creates entry points for cane blight fungus; canes develop dark purplish-brown patches and die back. Remove and burn affected canes; avoid wounding canes during training; pyrethrin spray at bud burst reduces adult emergence.