Nine more ounces of black raspberries picked today. It sure felt like more. That is a total of 1 lb. 5 oz. Not bad for a plant that was started from a bird deposit!
After checking how the black raspberries are doing, I went to check on the red raspberries. I was unhappy to find this visitor.
Japanese beetles....they love my raspberry leaves. This one was the only one that I saw, but I found evidence of their damage. I have said for a couple years that I need to get some milky spore to help control them, and haven't done so. Looks like hand based control again this year.
I never realized until just now that those nasty grubs that you find when digging in the dirt become the Japanese beetles. One more reason to dislike grubs.
6 comments:
That does look a nasty bug. We don't have them in Scotland - yet, but bug travel seems fairly inevitable these days. My rasps are also suffering but I think they dislike the soil they're in rather than any insect attack.
I would have to agree about the bug travel. From what I have read, these came to us through shipments of Japanese irises in the early 1900's. I hope that you are able to find a remedy for your raspberries so that you are able to enjoy them. I am curious as to the climate in Scotland as compared to here in the Midwest United States...
I happened upon your site from cornergardenersue's blog. I enjoyed reading about your gardens! The raspberry title caught my attention as I just planted 2 raspberry and 2 blackberry bushes a few weeks ago that I found on clearance. I am determined to make them live! There is a pest for everything though isn't there! Have a great week!
Thanks for stopping by my blog and taking a look, Melanie! I sure hope that you have good luck with your raspberries and blackberries. You have to love a great sale on plants! You rescued them from a potential demise in a garbage bin. :)
I'll have to check on my raspberries across the street to see if they have any insect damage. I hope yours recover OK.
Hi Sue!
So far the raspberries are doing pretty well. I haven't noticed any more beetles. They have nearly exfoliated my canes in previous years, but so far so good. They seem pretty hardy. I really need to order some milky spore so that it can get established.
Post a Comment