I'm an organic gardener in TN who does not use any type of control, except I'll pick off bugs, esp. if I can catch the tomato worms. Although I'm in a small suburb, my yard has a fairly diverse pop. of different bugs, although their preponderance seems to vary by year. Sometimes but not always my raspberries have lots of aphids; I usually have lots of squash/stink bugs, which attack everything I like. But this year I haven't done much planting, esp. not any of the plants they tend to like most, and I haven't seen much of either of them. Of course I have other bugs, but not so many they cause huge problems.

BUT, all of a sudden this year I have these small round black bugs with spots, that I haven't seen before. They seem to love my raspberries, which is quite annoying, although I've seen them all over my garden area. Any way to identify them? Can I send a picture?

Just discovered your site while trying to learn more about this bug: very nice!

Can you post a photo?

Look at the picnic or sap beetle...small round, yellow-orange spots


"The most common picnic beetle (family Nitidulidae) is a small (¼ inch long), black insect with four yellowish-orange spots on the back. Adult beetles are attracted to all types of overripe and decaying fruit. Although not attracted to ripe, undamaged raspberries, these can be damaged once picnic beetles are in the garden



http://www.extension.umn.edu/g...