Raspberry Crown Borer
(RCB)

Adult, egg, and caterpillar stages may be present during this time. Adult clear-winged moth looks like a black and yellow wasp. Caterpillars range in length from 1/4" to 1" depending on age.

Caterpillars tunnel in canes and crown area, weakening plants. 
Larval feeding reduces cane vigor and yield.

Search around the base of canes and crowns of suspected plants for signs of boring (holes/sawdust-like frass).

Record percent infested hills.

Feeding may cause swelling or galls to form at or below the soil surface.

If more than 5% of the plants have damage, caused by borer larvae, chemical controls are recommended.

Insecticide application to lower canes and crown area. October is preferred timing. If damage is present, treat for two consecutive years to obtain control.

Check canes next season.

Strawberry Crown Moth
(SCM)

SCM should be in larvae form during this time. Mature larvae are about ¾ inch long, white, with a dark brown head.

Larvae can cause economic damage by girdling the canes causing the plants to become stunted and have poor vigor.

Watch for weakened areas in the field and signs of feeding on the outside of the crown.

Record percent infested hills.

No threshold or tolerance level available.

Consider chemical control if adults were found in the trap during the harvest period.

The same fall insecticidal drench used to control Raspberry Crown Borer will also control SCM.

Monitor adult flight the following season to evaluate control measures.

Blackberry Rust
(more common on ‘Evergreen’ cultivar)

This rust overwinters as black pustules on leaves attached to canes or trapped in cane bundles.

Severely infected plants will lead to significant crop loss due to continuous defoliation and cane decline.

Scout field regularly for disease presence, to monitor reproductive cycles, and to evaluate effectiveness of chemical treatments.

Record level of damage on a scale of 0 to 3.

No threshold or tolerance level available.

Remove fruiting canes as soon as possible to prevent development of more spores. Cultivate in late fall to cover fallen leaves and old can stubs to reduce inoculum sources.

Continue scouting the following spring to check for new infections.

Apply lime sulfur during dormancy to target infected leaves.

Voles

Small rodents that tunnel through soil causing air pockets and feed on roots and crowns.

Feeding can girdle roots, crowns, canes and may lead to cane loss.

Look for tunnel entrance holes about one inch in diameter, surface runways through grass, and/or chewing marks on canes and roots.

Setup a monitoring station using an apple and either a board or PVC pipe. Check for feeding damage on the apple wedge.

No threshold or tolerance level available.

If symptoms are prevalent throughout field chemical treatment is advisable.

Modify habitat through weed control and regular mowing of aisle ways. Create 15 ft. weed free buffer between field and brushy area to deter voles from entering field.

Use rodenticide bait at bait stations to control populations.

Monitor 2-3 weeks after treatment to determine efficacy.