Red raspberry fruit problems - Ask Extension
For the 2nd year in a row, the early ripening berries (Prelude) in my small raspberry patch appear partially eaten. A 2nd variety (Encore) that ripen...
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Red raspberry fruit problems #870359
Asked May 28, 2024, 8:13 AM EDT
For the 2nd year in a row, the early ripening berries (Prelude) in my small raspberry patch appear partially eaten. A 2nd variety (Encore) that ripens several weeks later doesn't seem as affected. I think they are being attacked by Spotted Wing Drosophila. If so, do I need to clear out all the canes and replant? But will the SWD continue to affect new canes? And are there any remedies I can use, preferably without resorting to harmful pesticides? Are some raspberry varieties more resistant to this plague than others? I'd appreciate any help you can provide. Thanks.
Butler County Ohio
Expert Response
Thanks for contacting OSU Extension.
Spotted Wing Drosophila is here and can be a problem, especially for ripening raspberry fruit and some others. They unfortunately go after the fruit when it is ripening, which is when we are too. Control options vary. Non-Chemical approach is exclusion such as insect netting. Raspberries are unfortunately very susceptible and SWD is part of management.
Below I have put some resources to help that list various forms of control.
You may send a sample of the fruit to the OSU Pest and Plant Diagnostic Clinic to ID the damage and insect to confirm it.
https://ppdc.osu.edu/ OSU, C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic
https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/ent-0086 Monitoring and Managing Spotted Wing Drosophila in Fruit Crops
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/spotted-wing-drosophila#cultural-controls-992611 SWD About and Control
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/spotted-wing-drosophila/ SWD Info
JT Benitez
OSUE ANR Educator
Butler CO.
Spotted Wing Drosophila is here and can be a problem, especially for ripening raspberry fruit and some others. They unfortunately go after the fruit when it is ripening, which is when we are too. Control options vary. Non-Chemical approach is exclusion such as insect netting. Raspberries are unfortunately very susceptible and SWD is part of management.
Below I have put some resources to help that list various forms of control.
You may send a sample of the fruit to the OSU Pest and Plant Diagnostic Clinic to ID the damage and insect to confirm it.
https://ppdc.osu.edu/ OSU, C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic
https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/ent-0086 Monitoring and Managing Spotted Wing Drosophila in Fruit Crops
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/spotted-wing-drosophila#cultural-controls-992611 SWD About and Control
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/spotted-wing-drosophila/ SWD Info
JT Benitez
OSUE ANR Educator
Butler CO.
