Raspberry diseases and pests: photos and descriptions

Although raspberries are a relatively easy-to-grow plant that tolerates frost and thrives in any soil, they are susceptible to pests and diseases. To make the fight against these threats easier, it's important to know the diseases and pests common to this crop. After all, it's easier to defeat an enemy if you know it!

The most common diseases

There are several diseases that can affect a raspberry bush, regardless of what variety was chosen and planted.

Gray rot

A disease caused by a fungus. It can attack all parts of the plant, but is most commonly seen on fruits and flowers. It's easy to recognize: the affected areas turn gray.

Attention! Fruits affected by grey mould should not be eaten!

 

Warm, humid weather can be considered as a cause of the disease.

White spot

A disease that is also classified as a fungal infection, white spot doesn't affect the fruit, but only the stems and leaves of the plant. Visually, it's very easy to recognize: small dark spots, sometimes with a brown tint, appear on the affected areas. Over time, the spots begin to lighten, and if left untreated, the affected raspberry leaves will dry out and fall off.

We recommend: How to plant and care for a raspberry tree

 

Root cancer

Visually detecting the disease is very difficult, as it attacks the plant's roots. As the disease progresses, raspberry growth slows, and the berries lose their flavor. The disease is most often detected during replanting, when obvious symptoms have not yet appeared.

Bushiness

A disease that also has a second name—overgrowth. Visually, it's easy to recognize: numerous thin shoots with small leaves form around the rhizome. The disease is caused by a virus that spreads through the plant's sap.

The most common pests

In addition to diseases, raspberries can also be attacked by pests, which can be studied using descriptions, pictures, and photos.

Raspberry and strawberry weevil

This tiny, long-nosed beetle damages not only raspberries but also other berry crops before the fruit ripens. The adult female beetle lays eggs in the flower stalk, causing the flowers to fail to bloom.

Raspberry beetle

The most common raspberry pest, it is yellow-brown in color and has a body 4 millimeters long. They can destroy the berry entirely or affect its size, making it significantly smaller.

Raspberry glasshouse

The pest visually resembles a butterfly with the body and coloring of a bee or wasp. It's not the adult insect that poses the danger, but its larvae, which cut the plant shoots at the root. The glasswings lay eggs in mid-summer. An attack by this pest can either significantly reduce the yield or cause the raspberry bushes to break at the base due to the gnawed stems.

When you look at pictures of diseases and pests, they certainly don't evoke sympathy, not to mention the damage they cause to crops. Therefore, they must be actively combated and prevented.