Strawberry Sap Beetles

[RebelRidin]

Yesterday I had the displeasure of learning about Strawberry Sap Beetles. It is a nasty infestation. Usually folks don't even see the adults. They are so thick I can find a couple dozen feeding on a single berry.

These lousy things are destroying what would otherwise be some beautiful fruit. I've read about good sanitation (remove mature fruit ASAP and absolutely any overripe or damaged berries) and some work being done to develop pheremone traps but I need to do something now if possible.

Does anyone have any experience or suggestions? These things are like flea beetles on steroids!

[RebelRidin]

I'm considering Malathion unless anyone has a better suggestion. I've seen these beetles before on things like corncob in the compost, spolied melons. I never paid them any attention in those roles. This infestation in my strawberries is bad. If I don't do something I may as well tear out the bed and put in something else. At least that would deprive them of their food source.

http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/post...m?postnum=7429

[RebelRidin]

I couldn't bring myself to spray them. There were some bees in the area and I decided they just weren't worth it. No need to expose the bees or my family.

I'll have to surrender this year to the beetles and do without. Perhaps I can clean them up later when they are done blooming and plan for some traps for next year.

[tlintx]

I think there must be some trick to strawberries, because I have yet to snag a single one from my half dozen plants.

EVERYTHING likes them. Squirrels, birds, bugs... and the one or two I've spotted first really didn't seem worth the effort to bend over to pick them up.

I'm going to try one of the more unusual types in a more appropriate season for us in a raised off the ground bed.

Sorry you had such a bad time with them, but thank you for sparing the bees!


Tl

[JamesL]

George,
Bummer. I wish I had something to offer other than condolences.
I do know a few old timers that grow fields. Won't help you now, but I will ask when I see them around harvest. Wouldn't surprise me if they reach right for the biggest commercial "guns" available though.

[RebelRidin]

Originally Posted by tlintx

I think there must be some trick to strawberries, because I have yet to snag a single one from my half dozen plants.

EVERYTHING likes them. Squirrels, birds, bugs... and the one or two I've spotted first really didn't seem worth the effort to bend over to pick them up.

I'm going to try one of the more unusual types in a more appropriate season for us in a raised off the ground bed.

Sorry you had such a bad time with them, but thank you for sparing the bees!


Tl

I've grown them off and on for decades, always with good success. As a kid I hated the strawberry bed as it was a weeding chore. Now I can't get enough.

Bird problems can be handled with netting. Squirrrels have, on occassion, had to negotiate with Mr. Remington over their abuse of priveledge picking free berries. But this! This is the worst problem they have ever given me. You would think I had invited these things somehow?

[RebelRidin]

Originally Posted by JamesL

George,
Bummer. I wish I had something to offer other than condolences.
I do know a few old timers that grow fields. Won't help you now, but I will ask when I see them around harvest. Wouldn't surprise me if they reach right for the biggest commercial "guns" available though.

I will be very interested to see what they say James. Thanks.

[tlintx]

Originally Posted by RebelRidin

Bird problems can be handled with netting. Squirrrels have, on occassion, had to negotiate with Mr. Remington over their abuse of priveledge picking free berries. But this! This is the worst problem they have ever given me. You would think I had invited these things somehow?

Sadly, my area forbids shooting wildlife! Even the pests. One of my neighbors had deer eat her begonias.

The problem for me is that all that takes effort, and, while I know they're not as good as homegrown, strawberries are $2 to $3 a box at the grocery store from now until high summer, when they drop to $1.50.

I have such limited space I have to pick my crops carefully to maximize return, or Mngmt will reallocate my gardening funds.

I have been tempted by a few strawberry designs. One had them growing overhead, hanging down from an arbor!

[feldon30]

After losing a bunch of berries early on, I couldn't stand it any longer and threw together a makeshift barrier out of netting and 1x2's. it cost about $10 all told and although it was a pain in the butt to lift up the side to get to the fruit, I didn't lose a single berry to pests again.

Next time I grow strawberries, I will make an actual frame all out of 1x2's with hinges in the middle so that I can lift up one side to get to the fruit. I can't imagine growing strawberries naked.



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[lakelady]

Wow that really stinks George. This is actually the first year I am getting to eat my own strawberries for a change. The munks must be late this year, usually they will bite into every single one as soon as it ripens until my tomatoes begin ripening . I actually picked about a cup full of berries over the past two days , which I think, is a record for me out of 7 plants that I have had for years.

I wonder if the alpine strawberries are also targets for those bugs? They are so small though you would need an awful lot of plants to get much out of them. Might be worth a try anyway. I seeded some but the seedlings are still SO TINY I don't expect anything until next year, I hope.