The problem:
The Raspberry beetle (Byturus tomentosus) is a pest of cane fruit (such as raspberries, blackberries, tayberries and loganberries). Adult beetles lay their eggs on the plant flowers and the larvae burrow into the fruit where they remain hidden until harvest. Ruined fruit due to larvae feeding is mostly a problem on summer fruiting plant varieties.
The product:
Trapping adult beetles alters users to the presence of the pest and determines if further action is required.
How to use:
The aim is to use this trap to catch adult raspberry beetles as soon as they emerge from the soil in spring. Traps should be placed amongst the plants starting in April and used right through the flowering period.
- Add 5 cm of water and a drop of washing detergent into the green base of the trap to prevent caught beetles from escaping.
- When ready to use open the silver sachet containing the attractant lure. The attractant lure should be fastened to the underside of the top of the trap. This can be done by either using the sticky tab (included), or by clipping it within the white bung in the centre of the top.
- The attractant lure should be repalced every 6 weeks.
- Hang the trap 1.0 - 1.2 m above the ground. The trap should be used in a cearing with no leaves within 50cm to allow the beetles to see the white veins of the trap.
- One trap should be used for every 10-20 of bed.
- The trap should be checked for caught beetles weekly and the water replaced.
The funnel trap includes a black mesh to prevent large beneficial insects such as pollinating bees being accidentially caught in the trap.
At the end of the season dispose of the lure and keep the trap in a dry place away from light and frost for future use. Replacement attractant lures can be purchased seperately to allow the trap to be reused in future years.