How to Get Rid of Pests Off of Raspberries

The pests that love the raspberry plant include a wide variety of insects. Maggots, borers, beetles and worms are among the creatures that feed on both the foliage and the fruit of the raspberry plant. Insect pests can cause leaves to drop prematurely, and can lead to disfigurement and contamination of the berry itself. Getting rid of pests from raspberry plants can improve the quality and quantity of your crop.

Things You'll Need

Garden gloves
Dish detergent
Bucket

Pruning shears or slippers
Pesticide
Rake

Instructions

- 1
  Handpick beetles and raspberry fruitworms off of the leaves and fruit of the plants and destroy them in a bucket of soapy water. The relatively large size of these pests when compared to borers, aphids and maggots makes handpicking a viable option when infestations are light. Protect your hands with gardening gloves.
- 2
  Prune back and destroy canes that are affected by borers and cane maggots. Damage includes puncture wounds and wilting or swelling of the cane. These pests overwinter in and around the cane of the raspberries in either egg or adult form.
- 3
  Keep your raspberry bushes tidy to get rid of pests and prevent further contamination. Sap beetles are attracted to ripe fruit; pick ripe raspberries immediately. Till the soil to get rid of larvae of insect pests that lie in wait for next season.
- 4
  Remove pests from raspberries with a safe pesticide. Different ingredients are legal for use in different states, but check the label to ensure the chemicals you use are safe for raspberry plants or cane fruits.

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