For most people, strawberries and raspberries are their favorite berries. Adults and children are looking forward to them. Therefore, it is especially disappointing when abundantly flowering berry bushes are suddenly attacked by insect pests. Indeed, in this case, you can say goodbye to dreams of a good harvest. Today we will talk about effective measures to combat the pest weevil on raspberries.
Description of the pest
A small beetle that eats flowers on raspberry bushes and is dangerous for blackberries and strawberries is called the raspberry-strawberry weevil and belongs to the order of Coleoptera beetles. The insects are bisexual, immature individuals (only they survive during the cold period) overwinter in fallen leaves under bushes and the top layer of soil.
Geographical distribution
Weevils are found throughout the planet, with the exception of highlands, the far north and deserts. They prefer humid, warm regions, where these insects are especially abundant.
Appearance
The beetle is up to 3 centimeters long, has an oval body and a head with a long thin proboscis. Adults are dark brown (almost black) in color. The proboscis has long, angled whiskers.
Life cycle
As the temperature rises to +10-13 °C, insects begin to feed on young strawberry leaves. The largest number of individuals appears during the flowering period of berry bushes. After mating, the female pierces the bud, lays eggs and feeds on the anthers of the plant.
How to recognize an insect
Early varieties of strawberries and wild strawberries are the first to suffer. Then the pest moves to later varieties of berries and raspberries. The presence of weevils on strawberries and raspberries is detected by the following signs:
- the presence of small holes on the leaves (they are gnawed by adult beetles);
- damaged fallen buds;
- the presence of larvae inside fallen buds;
- the appearance of beetles on raspberry bushes (even single individuals can quickly multiply).
During the season, 2-3 generations of insects appear.
What can harm
Damage to plantings is caused by adult beetles that eat leaves, and larvae that destroy flowers immediately after emergence. When there are a large number of insects, they damage stems and foliage, destroy raspberries, rose hips, strawberries, wild strawberries, and blackberries.
Important: you should not place beds with berries next to raspberry bushes.
Each female lays 40-50 eggs. The first batch of adult insects appears by mid-June.
Fighting methods
Insects are destroyed using chemicals; there are effective folk methods for exterminating pests. Preventive measures reduce the likelihood of weevils appearing on the site.
Chemicals
The bushes are sprayed with the following preparations:
- "Karbofos 500";
- "Iskra M"
- "Kemifos";
- "Akarin."
Insecticides are used according to the manufacturer's instructions, without exceeding the recommended dosage. Plants should be treated before flowering, with the appearance of the first green leaves.
Folk remedies
You can fight weevils with folk remedies. The following formulations are effective:
- Mustard solution. Take 100 grams of dry mustard and mix with 5 liters of water. Flowering raspberry bushes are treated with the mixture. Repeated treatment is carried out after 1.5-2 weeks.
- Tansy decoction. 700-800 grams of dry plant or 3 kilograms of fresh tansy are poured with 10 liters of water and infused for 2 days. After this, the infusion is boiled for 30-40 minutes, filtered and diluted with 6-7 liters of water. For better adhesion, liquid laundry soap (100 grams) is added to the mixture.
- Ammonia solution. Take 2 tablespoons of ammonia per 10 liters of water.
- Bell pepper.The tincture is made from 1 kilogram of bitter capsicum or 0.5 kilograms of dry pods. It is finely chopped and filled with 10 liters of water. The mixture is infused for 48 hours, then boiled for 10 minutes and infused again. The finished infusion is filtered. It can be stored in a dark place and used at any stage of the growing season.
- Iodine. Dissolve a teaspoon of alcohol tincture in a bucket of water. Raspberry bushes are treated with the mixture.
These products are safe and effective when used promptly.
Biological products
These are modern agrochemicals that are harmless to humans and entomophages (beneficial insects that live in the garden). Raspberries are processed:
- "Nemobactom";
- "Iskra-bio";
- "Fitoverm".
Biological products act effectively, but a little slower than conventional agrochemicals.
Natural enemies
The weevil is destroyed by chickens; in the presence of ground beetle larvae and flies, there will be significantly fewer insects. Pests cannot stand proximity to onions and garlic. You can plant these plants around raspberry bushes.
Prevention measures
In the fall, the soil under the raspberry bushes should be dug up, then the larvae will not survive the winter. In early spring, it is necessary to remove foliage and last year's mulch from under the bushes and loosen the soil around the plant. Additionally, the soil is spilled with boiling water; this will not harm the raspberries and will destroy the weevil.
Beetle traps are effective. A small mixture of sugar and yeast with water is poured into bottles with a narrow neck. Traps are left under raspberry bushes and in strawberry beds.
