Raspberry (autumn fruiting) attacked

[Seabreeze]

Hi,

Our new autumn-fruiting raspberry canes / bush is being attacked from 'below' presumably by caterpillars. The lower leaves are being decimated, but the top has excellent, strong, growth.

Is there an easy way to stop the little ******** or do I need to resort to 'DDT' or / and crawling underneath and getting pricked to bits whilst searching every leaf.

Thanks,

Keith
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[Eden]

hi there,

it sounds as though you've got what I had on my raspberries, caterpillars eating the leaves and turning them into lace!! Anyway, I tried Rose Clear and it didn't work, so tried liquid derris and it does seem to have worked. It didn't kill them right away but quite slowly, they have all gone now and I can't see any more caterpillars on them at all. I'll remember to spray them much earlier next year (or get that fruit cage built!!) Good luck!

[valmarg]

Seabreeze, where do you get DDT from? It was a banned substance back in the late 1950's, early 60's?

valmarg

[Seabreeze]

Seabreeze, where do you get DDT from? It was a banned substance back in the late 1950's, early 60's?

valmarg

Hi,
This was only a joke !!!!
please excuse my sense of humour
Best wishes,
Keith

[Seabreeze]

hi there,

it sounds as though you've got what I had on my raspberries, caterpillars eating the leaves and turning them into lace!! Anyway, I tried Rose Clear and it didn't work, so tried liquid derris and it does seem to have worked. It didn't kill them right away but quite slowly, they have all gone now and I can't see any more caterpillars on them at all. I'll remember to spray them much earlier next year (or get that fruit cage built!!) Good luck!

Thanks!
I will buy some liquid Derris - and get around to building the fruit cage...
Best wishes,
Keith

[valmarg]

Hi,
This was only a joke !!!!
please excuse my sense of humour
Best wishes,
Keith

OK, I've taken the hook out of the roof of my mouth, with little damage.

valmarg

[adrian901]

If you are building a soft fruit cage, leave the netting off for as long as you can as the birds will go in and eat the caterpillars for you....

Also be really careful with pesticides on soft fruit - remember you have to eat the stuff. Sounds silly, but if you go out just when it has got dark, with a torch, you will see who is doing the damage and then you can have the satisfaction of dealing with them personally. Could be slugs as well.

Good luck