Raspberry canes and beetle (Black and Orange)

[Kitchen Gardener]

Our summer fruiting raspberries did really well and I have now cut them all back. I know I should only cut the old/fruiting wood back but there was so little new growth so I cut them all right back. The Autumn ones have made loads of growth but very little fruit. We plan to redesign that area of garden next year and since the Autumn canes are about four years old I have taken a chance and cut them all right back now. If they grow back before we need the space next year it will be a bonus, if not I will replace the canes when the new garden is complete. My major reason for this post is that, we decided to bundle up all cuttings and take them to our allotment for burning in November. When were unloading the car my husband spotted some small black and orange bettles. I squashed two but guess there could have been more on the cuttings. I have been trying to identify the beetles and the nearest I can find is something called a Picnic Beetle which is a sap sucker. Has anyone else seen these and are they a problem which needs dealing with?? I just hope I haven't transported a problem to the allotment. I have never seen anything like these before. We have now throughly fumigated the car and ourselves!!

[Scarlet]

Are you sure they werent ladybird larvae?
http://www.ladybird-survey.org/downl...ird_larvae.pdf

[Kitchen Gardener]

Oh heck will look at the website and hope I haven't killed any ladybirds!! Jus t looked at website and think they might have been larvae. I did only kill two so whilst I feel bad, think I can be forgiven.

[Scarlet]

Bad girl !

[Kitchen Gardener]

Sorry ... it was just them being in the car which worried my husband.

[rosiepumpkin]

On the good side, those of us (me) who don't know what ladybird larvae look like can now know, so who knows how many ladybird lives you saved by accidentally killing two.

[Penellype]

I did a similar thing when looking for sawfly larvae on my white currant bush earlier this year. I found some pale green caterpillar type things and squished them, then decided to look them up. I couldn't find anything under caterpillars, and something made me look up hoverflies. And there they were. Oops