| Raspberry beetle | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Byturidae |
| Genus: | Byturus |
| Species: | B. tomentosus |
| Binomial name | |
| Byturus tomentosus De Geer, 1774 |
|
The Raspberry beetle (Byturus tomentosus) is a pest that is widespread in north-central Europe. It affects raspberry, blackberry and loganberry plants. It lays eggs on the flowers which hatch into pale brown larvae. They feed on the developing fruit, and the fruit will appear smaller and shriveled.[1] The Raspberry beetle has to be controlled in many locations by use of derris, a pesticide.
This species is related to the Raspberry fruitworm (B. urbanus) which is native to North America.
The pest damages both wild and cultivated raspberries and also blackberries. The beetles eat portions of the flowers and young leaflets and lay their eggs between the stamens and pistils. The larvae tunnel in the developing fruit which remain small, become pale in colour, fade or rot. The larvae then drop to the soil and pupate underground. Control measures include digging-over the soil around bushes and inter-row ploughing. Chemical pesticides may be applied at the flowering stage. White sticky traps are sometimes used to catch beetles.[1]