I faced the same problem twice. The first time I had no idea how to deal with this pest, and missed the moment.
My raspberries were on the verge of death, I had to use chemicals ... The second time I met with a raspberry fly in another, new dacha. But by that time I already knew her well. In addition, kind people advised me how to properly deal with this infection. And the second time I defeated the pest without any chemicals!
What is a raspberry fly and how to deal with it
The raspberry fly is such a small, up to 5 mm long, gray insect. To deal with it effectively, you need to know the development cycle of this insect.
The female fly in the spring, somewhere in mid-May, lays her eggs in the axils of the leaves of young raspberry shoots. After a while (about a week later), larvae appear from the eggs, which gnaw through the stem and settle there, after which the top of the young shoot fades, turns black and dries up.
If you break or cut the stem at the fold, you will see the pest's habitat there - a brown wormhole and a small white worm.
By the beginning or during the flowering of raspberries, the larva makes a move in the stem and leaves it, going into the soil for wintering. The fly pupa hibernates in cocoons in the upper soil layer, at a depth of up to 6 cm, under raspberry bushes. In the spring, in mid-May, a fly appears from the cocoon - its flight coincides with the period of growth of young shoots.
The fly in mid-May again lays its eggs in the axils of the leaves, and the cycle repeats. How do I deal with stem fly?
1. Since her chrysalis hibernates in the upper layers of the soil at a depth of up to 6 cm, in the fall I dug up the ground around the raspberry bush - carefully, shallowly, so as not to damage the roots. This is necessary so that the pupae freeze and die in winter.
2. In early spring, the ground under the bushes was mulched with rotted manure with a layer of 8-10 cm (no less!) So that the flies that hatched from the remaining pupae could not crawl out of the thick layer of soil.
3. In addition, I constantly watched, i.e. examined raspberry bushes, especially young shoots. And if she noticed a faded one, she immediately cut it off at the base, as close as possible to the roots, and burned it. If the young shoot reached a decent height in growth and it was a pity to cut it (and as a rule, the fly infects the very first, strongest shoots), cut off only the top and examined the place of the cut. If she found a hole in it (the move made by the larva), she cut off the shoot down to a healthy, undamaged stem by the larva. Then, replacement shoots grow from the sinuses of this bush, develop and bear fruit.
I was convinced that the method of inspecting young shoots and timely removal of the affected ones (before the fly has not yet gone into the soil) is the most effective.
4. Weak, fly-damaged shoots were cut out at the very root and burned. Strong, but also damaged, she left and cut off the damaged stem down to a healthy one, capturing a little healthy stem. The cut damaged stem was burned. You can't be late with pruning!
This is how I saved the raspberry bushes. A year after these procedures, the affected shoots became much smaller, and a year later, not a single one remained! Within two years, I completely got rid of the raspberry stem fly. Currently, I spray the bushes only once, in the spring, during the ovary of green berries, with a solution of tea soda (2 tablespoons of soda for 10 liters of water). Berries are always clean.
Processing raspberries in spring with copper sulphate
It is important! It is necessary to spray the young shoots before the raspberries bloom and not miss the moment when the fly larvae leave the stem into the soil. Perhaps you missed this moment.
I have already said that when I first encountered the raspberry stem fly, I had no experience, and I had to resort to chemicals. So, in the fall, after digging, I sprayed the soil under the raspberries and the bushes themselves with Bordeaux liquid.
In the spring, during the period of raspberry growth, I sprayed the shoots with an insecticide. You need to spray before flowering! If you do this later, you can be late, because the larvae of the fly during flowering and even before it begins to go into the soil to winter. I cut out the affected shoots.
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The danger to raspberries is the so-called raspberry fly. If it appears on the bushes, homeowners may be left without most of the tasty and healthy berries. Therefore, the fight against the raspberry fly must be carried out without fail. There are various ways that can help get rid of pests. Before you learn about them, you need to find out what these insects look like.
Appearance of the insect
The stem raspberry fly belongs to small insects, the length of which is about 6-7 mm. Their color is brown-gray. The raspberry fly winters under the bushes - in the upper layers of the soil. The active breeding season of the pest begins in spring and falls in April and May, depending on the regions of the country. This happens at a time when young shoots begin to appear. A raspberry fly crawls out of the ground.
To recognize the pest, you should carefully look at the photo of the raspberry stem fly. By itself, she is harmless, problems begin after she lays white, oval-shaped microscopic eggs. In total, the raspberry fly is able to lay them in the amount of 90 pieces. As soon as this happens, changes in the plant become noticeable - the gradual wilting of the leaves begins.
Insects lay their eggs in the axils of the upper part of the leaves. After 5-8 days, larvae appear, having a cylindrical shape and white color. It is they, and not white flies on raspberries, as people often say, that cause significant harm to bushes, gnawing spiral passages in soft stems. As a result, the bases of young shoots are damaged. Recognizing a raspberry fly is quite simple. If the young shoots in the upper part of the bush become lethargic, turn black, then a raspberry fly has appeared. Along the stems, passages are visible, cutting through which, you can see the larva itself. If no action is taken, the plant will die or the number of young shoots that are fruitful will be greatly reduced.
Raspberry stem fly can kill not only raspberries, but also blackberries and meadowsweet and meadowsweet. In order to avoid a massive defeat of the bushes, one should fight by choosing really effective methods and methods.
Control methods for the raspberry stem fly
There are various methods that effectively help get rid of raspberry fly larvae.
Aggressive means
Chemical preparations are used during the period of shoot growth, when their height does not exceed a length equal to 15 mm. The most common are the following drugs:
- Karbofos. It is a moderately toxic substance. To prepare the desired solution, dissolve 60 grams of the drug in 10 liters of water and spray the bushes with it in the evening. If rain is forecast, it is better not to use the drug. It is enough to process the plant 2 times.
- Spark. It belongs to the means of a wide spectrum of action and helps well in the fight against insects that feast on leaves. The drug is sold in tablets. Prepare the solution according to the instructions on the package. One tablet is enough to prepare 10 liters of a solution that needs to be sprayed on raspberries.
- Actellik. A drug of chemical origin that has a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract of the pest. It is sold in ampoules (2 g) in the form of an emulsion, as well as canisters containing 5 liters. The preparation is accompanied by an instruction that describes in detail how to prepare and use the product. It is permissible to use the solution no more than twice a year, since the drug is quite toxic.
- Confidor. Highly effective low-toxic insecticide that seeps through the stem, foliage, root of the plant. It provides excellent protection for up to two weeks against raspberry flies, even in very hot weather, and is practically not washed off by rain.
It is possible to use drugs only after picking berries, since they are dangerous for bees and insects involved in the pollination process. It is also strictly forbidden to spray if there are beehives nearby.
Biologicals
For the destruction of raspberry flies, biological agents are used. Experts recommend paying attention to such drugs:
- Fitoverm. It has a wide spectrum of action, but its effect will be noticeable only a week after application. They can process the bushes several times in the evening, but not less than 2 days before harvesting. This product is safe for bees.
- Agravertin. The drug is an alcohol-infused extract from a soil fungus - streptomyces. The solution for spraying is prepared according to the instructions. It should be used immediately. It is perfectly used in hot weather, enhancing the effect, but at temperatures below 18 degrees, it is not recommended to use it.
In June, I discovered that my raspberry bushes were badly damaged by the raspberry fly. A neighbor advised and gave me Fitoverm. She explained in detail how to use it. I did everything as expected and processed raspberries in the evening. Good product, I recommend.
Daria, Vladimir
Folk remedies
The raspberry fly is a specific insect. It has practically no effect on drugs prepared by oneself. But gardeners and gardeners do not lose heart and are constantly looking for new measures to combat this pest, which can destroy the raspberry crop. In the comments, people write that they use Bordeaux liquid for this purpose. It is a mixture of copper sulphate and lime milk. The resulting composition is recommended to water the soil under the raspberry bushes and there will be no such problem as a raspberry fly.
According to experts, this method is good if known drugs that have proven their effectiveness are used simultaneously with it. Bordeaux liquid has long been known to gardeners and gardeners. It is of great benefit in the event of rot, it perfectly helps with diseases of grapes, roses, and various shrubs. It is quite logical to assume that it is also good for raspberries. She definitely won't do any harm.
I use Bordeaux liquid for roses all the time. 2 years ago I planted several raspberry bushes and also began to water this solution under them. So far I haven't encountered any pests.
Galina, Minsk
Prevention
In order for raspberry bushes to please the owners with a rich harvest, this should be taken care of in advance and preventive measures should be taken:
- Soil digging. This is necessary, since the raspberry fly pupa spends winter time in the ground under a bush. You need to dig carefully so as not to damage the root system. As a result, the larvae will freeze and die.
- Mulching. Under the bushes, rotted manure should be poured, its height should not be less than 8 cm. Such a barrier will not allow the chrysalis to break through.
- Regular inspection. If wilted stems are found, they should be cut closer to the base. Since the larvae infect the upper young, strong shoots, they should be given special attention. When moves are found, it is also necessary to trim to an undamaged place. In the future, a new, healthy shoot is formed.
- Spraying the bushes with soda solution. In 10 liters of water you need to dissolve 2 tbsp. l. soda, stir and sprinkle each bush in the spring, when the berries are just beginning to set.
If you constantly monitor the plants, the likelihood of raspberry flies appearing on them is reduced many times over. If they appear, you should choose one of the proposed methods so that.
Gardeners and gardeners always have a lot to do to save the crop. It is a common practice that for every plant there is at least one pest. There is such a "personal" enemy and raspberry bushes. In spring, young shoots are threatened by the raspberry stem fly. If you do not fight the insect, you can be left without fresh berries and winter stocks of jam.
A fly that loves raspberries
On the apical leaves of young shoots, the raspberry stem fly places one white oval egg each. One female is able to lay up to 90 pieces. And already at this moment the leaves begin to slowly fade. At the bottom of the raspberry at this stage, everything is in order. A week later, a legless cylindrical white larva emerges from the egg. The stems of young shoots are soft, so the larva easily penetrates under their skin. Feeding, she shreds the stem and gnaws through the passages: first - straight down, ring-shaped - into the core, and then damages the base of the shoot.
The larvae feed on plant fiber in the cracks of the shoots.It turns out that when last year's shoots bloom, the satiated larvae already leave through the gnawed passage into the soil for wintering (in the form of a chrysalis). And in the spring the cycle repeats.
Table: what it looks like and where the raspberry stem fly lives
Photo gallery: the appearance of the fly and the signs of damage to the bushes
An adult raspberry fly lives on the stems of plants Through a gnawed stem, the larvae of the raspberry fly go into the soil for wintering Raspberry stem fly lays eggs on the tops of young shoots
How the stem fly gets into the raspberry
Some errors in agricultural technology can cause the appearance of a pest on the bushes:
- bad neighborhood - do not plant new raspberry bushes near blackberries, meadowsweet and meadowsweet. These plants are susceptible to attack by the raspberry stem fly. The same applies to the neighbor's raspberries - no fence will save you from a pest;
- raspberry thicket - do not run raspberries. Cut bushes promptly. It is important to dig the soil well, but it is difficult to do this if the plantations have turned into a dense impenetrable forest;
- fly on honey - a raspberry stem fly can be lured by aphids, or rather, honeydew secreted by it. If you do not fight one pest, the appearance of another will not take long;
- bad fertilizer - fly larvae can get with infected humus when mulching the soil under the bushes.
Raspberry stem fly control
It is better to start measures to combat the raspberry fly in advance, applying some preventive measures before the start of the flight of insects. In the fight against a pest that has already appeared, the main thing is not to miss the moment the plant is damaged. If you let the raspberry fly "roam" - up to 80% of young shoots will die.
You can save the harvest by following the rules for caring for raspberry bushes - inspect the bushes in a timely manner, remove damaged shoots;
- finding the first wilting leaves on the tops of raspberry bushes, immediately cut them off. This must be done just below the site of damage;
- the main thing is to have time to cut before the moment the larva has descended. If, when examining the place of pruning, a hole is visible in the middle of the stem, you will have to cut further (to the part not affected by the pest). Removed leaves, parts of the stems must be burned;
- be sure to thoroughly loosen the soil under the raspberry bushes in early spring (before the flies emerge), and in autumn (when the larvae begin to overwinter in a cocoon). Maybe not all the larvae will die, but most of them will die for sure;
- sprinkle the ground under the raspberries with a thick layer of wood ash;
- mow weeds around the site in time;
- annually with the advent of spring, treat the bushes with Bordeaux liquid.
Bordeaux mixture (an aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide and calcium sulfate) is a drug with a long history of use. Back in the 19th century, this substance was used to spray plantations affected by fungal diseases and pests. Acts on a diseased plant as an antibiotic.
The benefit of using Bordeaux mixture in protecting plants from the raspberry stem fly is to increase their resistance. Healthy shoots are more likely to fight the pest. Since after the appearance of damage from the vital activity of the larvae in raspberry bushes, the risk of "catching sores" increases. For spraying, a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture is used (100 g of quicklime and copper sulfate are taken for 10 liters of water).
Video: how to make Bordeaux liquid
Spraying raspberries
There are special preparations from which solutions are prepared for spraying bushes. Biological agents are used immediately after flowering, and chemical agents are used during the period of shoot growth.
Table: stem fly control agents
| Name of the drug, brief description | Short description | Active substance | Release form | Dosage | Number of treatments; exposure time | How to handle |
| Fitoverm | intestinal-contact insectoacaricide | aversectin C | in ampoules | 1.5 ml per 1 liter of water |
| Spraying bushes affected by raspberry fly larvae. |
| Akarin | contact-intestinal bioinsicticide | extract from the fungus streptomyces | in ampoules and liter bottles | 2–3 ml per 1 liter of water |
| Spraying bushes affected by raspberry fly larvae. It is not recommended to process in hot weather. |
| Karbofos (drugs Iskra, Aktellik, Fufanon, etc.) | FOS, insectoacaricide | malathion | in all forms and with different concentrations | 0.2% solution (20 ml of 50% emulsion concentrate per 10 l of water. When using a 10% concentrate of karbofos emulsion per 10 l of water, take 75 ml of the drug) | 2-3 times (interval 7-10 days) during insect flight | Spraying young shoots and soil under the bushes. |
| Kerosene | combustible substance of wide application | Water-kerosene composition (1%): 100 ml of kerosene per 10 liters of water | 2-3 times (interval 7-10 days) during insect flight | Spraying young shoots and soil under bushes. |
Important! It is impossible to spray with solutions based on Karbofos during the flowering of plants, as well as near the beehives. The drug is toxic to bees and other pollinating insects.
Video: spring processing of raspberries from pests
Folk remedies
Although the effectiveness of traditional recipes in the fight against this pest is questionable, many gardeners prefer to experiment with "environmental remedies" first before using chemicals. In the fight against a pest, the following folk methods with a deterrent effect may be useful:
- treatment of bushes with a water-mustard solution (a glass of powder per 10 liters of warm water);
- spraying raspberries during budding with herbal decoction of tansy (300 g of dried tansy is boiled for 20–30 minutes in 3–5 liters of water, the decoction is infused for a day. The volume is brought to 10 liters with cold water);
- planting garlic and onions in close proximity to raspberry bushes.
A good prevention of infection by larvae of the stems of raspberry bushes is loosening in the rows during the period of insect pupation. Such a simple method will reduce the pest fly colonies by several times. In some cases, it is necessary to completely remove the top layer of soil (about 3 cm) and replace it with humus, manure, and a layer of sawdust.
Photo gallery: folk recipes from a raspberry fly
From pests, raspberries can be treated with a solution of mustard powder. Tansy decoction repels many pests, including the raspberry stem fly. Neighborhood with onion and garlic beds protects raspberries from stem flies
Pest resistant varieties
It turns out that the variety of raspberries also determines a lot. Some species are considered more resistant to pest attack. It all depends on the shoots: it is better if they are more pubescent and not very cracked at the beginning of growth. Recommended varieties with relative pest resistance:
- Faith,
- Bell,
- Zorenka,
- Balm,
- Reward,
- Seedling,
- ruby,
- Falcon,
- Brilliant.
In the process of growing raspberries, various pests can affect. One of them is the raspberry fly. Its invasion can lead to significant crop losses. What is a raspberry fly and how to get rid of it? Let's consider in more detail.
The life cycle of the pest and signs of damage
The raspberry stem fly is a small brown-gray insect. The length of the pest is 6-7 mm. It can damage bushes not only raspberries, but also blackberries.
The pest becomes active in late spring. During this period, the fly begins to multiply, laying eggs in the axils of the stems. Each time the insect produces one egg. This is manifested by the withering of the shoot. However, not the entire stem wilts, but only the part that is located above the masonry site. Later, larvae emerge from the eggs. If you have time to remove the affected parts of the shoot, the bush will develop normally. The formation of larvae occurs within 5-8 days, which is determined by weather conditions. The higher the air temperature, the faster they develop.
The larvae are highly aggressive. They make moves in the stems, as a result of which the latter gradually wither and eventually die. Upon closer examination, bluish rings are visible on the branches. After 2-3 weeks, the larvae move into the ground. There they spend the entire cold period, and when it warms up, they turn into adults, after which the cycle repeats.
How to deal with a pest?
Many gardeners are wondering how to deal with a raspberry fly? First of all, pest control consists in pruning and burning the damaged parts of the plant. In addition, control methods include the treatment of bushes with special solutions.
We get rid of the pest with the help of synthetic means. The most commonly used drugs are: 
- "Spark". It is used to destroy not only the raspberry fly, but also other pests. It is a tablet that must be dissolved in 10 liters of water, after which the raspberries should be treated with the resulting solution. This event should be held in the early morning or after sunset. Otherwise, the solution will dry quickly and the effect will be negligible.
- "Karfofos" is a pesticide that can destroy the raspberry fly. Due to its high toxicity, it is not recommended to use it during flowering. To get rid of the raspberry fly, you need to process the bush twice.
- "Aktellik" is a remedy that damages the digestive system of a fly. Sold in ampoules. To prepare the solution, you need to dissolve one ampoule in 2 liters of water.
- "Confidor" operates systematically. The drug is safe for humans, but has a negative effect on bees.
- "Agravertin" is a completely natural drug that destroys the gastrointestinal tract of the pest. Can be used multiple times. Most effective at temperatures from 10 to 18 degrees. They process raspberries after sunset.
- "Fitoverm" helps to get rid of the raspberry stem fly within 1 week. If spraying is carried out in the summer, before processing raspberries, you need to remove them from the berry.
You can also fight the raspberry fly with the help of folk remedies. There is no scientific confirmation of the effectiveness of such compounds against this pest. However, there are many reviews of experienced gardeners indicating their high efficiency. According to one of them, a woman fought a raspberry stem fly with Bordeaux liquid. She simply watered the soil around the bush with it and in this way got rid of the annoying pest.
In addition, methods of struggle include a complex effect. Simultaneously with the Bordeaux mixture, the insecticides described above are used.
Preventive actions
The main method of prevention is the proper care of raspberry bushes. About 2 times a month you need to carefully inspect the plants. At the slightest sign of damage by a raspberry fly, treatment should be started immediately. In addition, you need to follow the feeding schedule, because with a lack of nutrients, the bush weakens and is more often affected by pests.
Another important measure is preventive spraying. Many are interested in how to treat bushes for protective purposes? For spraying, the same means are used as for treatment, only in this case, the treatment is carried out no more than 1 time per month.
We examined the features of the life cycle of the raspberry fly and measures to combat it. The gardener should remember that the sooner treatment is started, the more likely it is to save the bush and not lose the crop.
This pest is widespread in central Russia. In mid-May, flies begin to fly out of the upper layers of soil located under the raspberry bushes. During this period, their main purpose is to lay their eggs in the axils of the apical leaves.
After some time, larvae appear from the eggs, which immediately begin to bite into the stem, making ring-shaped passages in it. As a result of this, damaged shoots very soon begin to fade, blacken and rot. The larvae, feeding, gradually gnaw a tunnel to the base of the shoot.
When raspberries bloom, the larvae leave shoots and go into the soil. There they pupate, and the whole process begins anew: a fly - eggs-larvae.
As soon as you notice the shoots damaged by the larvae of the raspberry stem fly (their tops begin to blacken and wither), cut them out closer to the middle, while capturing part of the healthy stem, and destroy (take them out of the site and burn them). Then work the soil under the raspberry bushes.
After pruning, lateral branches (2-3 pieces) soon begin to develop on the shoots, which develop intensively and give a good harvest.
Knowing the approximate timing of the departure of the raspberry fly, it is possible to treat the apical shoots with Actellik and Iskra preparations. This method of control is recommended for severe infection of plants, since the preparations have a chemical basis.
Be sure to dig up the raspberry bushes in the autumn, disrupting the measured life of the raspberry fly larvae, which have settled down for a comfortable wintering.
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