| In the "National Gardening" magazine, August, 1999, there was a letter about preventing raspberry fruit worms. What chemicals are used, and when are they applied, to prevent the worms from infesting the fruit? |
| The raspberry fruitworm is a tiny (1/7") yellow-brown beetle that feeds on the flower buds and leaves during the spring. After laying their eggs on the buds, little yellow worms bore through the bud, finally developing into full grown larvae which eat the fruit. Raspberry fruitworms can be controlled with good sanitation habits. Keeping the area free of weeds so fruitworm larvae don't have a place to overwinter. Cultivating in late summer also reduces overwintering insects. If fruitworm has been a problem in previous years, apply a multipurpose fruit spray which contains an insecticide as well as a fungicide. Timing is critical. Apply one week prior to flower bloom and after fruit bloom. Never apply insecticides during the bloom period or pollinating bees will be destroyed. |
