Blackcurrant pests and how to control them

It's not that blackcurrant pests (and their control) are any less severe than those of other garden crops. If you follow the proper care guidelines for your bushes, starting from planting, you'll be able to reap a good, tasty harvest every year.

But, not one the summer resident is not insured from a disease affecting these bushes. The disease weakens the plant and leads to crop loss. Moreover, it can be dangerous for everything growing in your garden. So, if your currant bushes start to become ill, they need to be treated promptly. First, of course, you need to identify the pest.

Blackcurrant Pests and Their Control (Photos)

Kidney mite

The most common blackcurrant pest, which every gardener has probably encountered in their gardening practice, is the blackcurrant larvae. They spend the winter in the buds, where they lay their eggs. As a result, in the spring, not only leaves appear on the bushes, but also the offspring of this parasite. The larvae feed on the bud sap, and many leaves will not even open, having dried out at the budding stage.

What to do for treatment

If the bushes are severely affected, it's best to dig them up and burn them. While this is a drastic measure, it will save healthy currants. If the infection is noticed early, remove shoots with infected buds (they're significantly enlarged). When the leaves begin to open, spray them twice with malathion (75 grams of a 10% solution per 10 liters of water).

Glass-box

Another blackcurrant pest (control is described below) attacks shoots. These are caterpillars that crawl up and down the wood. The shoots will initially wilt, but then become so weakened that they simply die. At the sites of damage, you can notice severe branch breakage, and the currants become very small.

What to do for treatment

To treat the plant, you'll need to treat it twice. First, apply 0.2% chlorophos immediately after flowering. Then, apply the same solution again ten days later. After that, all infected shoots They need to be removed and burned. Keep in mind that the branches need to be cut back to the base (in the fall or early spring).

Yellow aphid

You can spot them on the undersides of leaves. Aphids live in colonies, so they're active on currant bushes, and if you observe the bush, you'll immediately notice something amiss. Affected leaves will curl and then fall off. Aphids especially prefer the tips of growing shoots.

What to do for treatment

As soon as a gardener notices aphids, they should immediately apply a garlic infusion. Other folk remedies for blackcurrant pests in this category include using tobacco infusion, orange peel, or even walnut shells. Apply the chosen infusion once every ten days. Any affected leaves should be burned.

Berry sawfly

They attack berries, but most often they settle on blackcurrant bushes. The parasite spends the winter in a cocoon in the soil directly beneath the bush. In the spring, as the leaves unfold, they emerge from the ground and lay eggs on the underside of the leaf. Soon, caterpillars emerge, literally gnawing at the leaves as they go. They also infest the berries. The caterpillars remain on the bush for a month, then retreat underground again.

What to do for treatment

You'll need to treat the plant with a 0.1% chlorophos solution. It's important to spot this pest early and eliminate it before it reenters the soil before next season.

Now you know what blackcurrant pests look like. Controlling them will be complex and challenging, often lasting more than just one season. But with the right approach, you'll be able to save your bushes and enjoy delicious berries year after year. Good luck.