Raspberry – pest monitoring March 2020

Raspberry growers will need to get batteries for their torches and begin checking plantations at night for double-dart moth caterpillars and clay-coloured weevils.

Double-dart moth caterpillars are 2-2.5 cm in length, brown in colour with a distinctive V-shaped marking down their backs and a black-edged reddish-brown stripe along each side of their body.  Clay-coloured weevils have an obvious snout and are usually found on the stalks of fruiting laterals.  Whilst both these pests feed at night, weevils may sometimes still be found on canes on dull overcast days.

An insecticide application at night is most effective against these pests as this is when they will be actively feeding on the plants.