What does a raspberry bug look like?
Various individuals live on berry bushes, the most common are:
- green arboreal stink bug;
- berry bug.
The first of them is larger - up to 16 mm, the body is green.
Such a bug on raspberries is completely invisible as long as it is on the green part of the plant.
The insect has a wide, angular back, reminiscent of a shield, which is facilitated by the presence of a ridge on the pronotum. There are 3 pairs of limbs, 1 pair of antennae. The bug flies, which contributes to its spread throughout the territories. The elytra are rigid and cover the abdomen, and the wings are transparent. The head is small, the mouthparts look fragile, but its strength is enough to pierce the soft tissues of plants and fruits.
The green tree pest looks similar, except for the following parameters:
- the body is smaller - up to 12 mm in length;
- color brown with punctures on the sides.
Otherwise, these pests are similar: they have the same number of antennae, limbs, and the ability to fly.
If you are wondering what the raspberry bug looks like, you need to consider the possibility of other stink bugs appearing on the berries. For example, a harmful turtle can also parasitize raspberries. This is also a bug, but it belongs to a different family. In addition, it is not considered a true raspberry, since berries of this type are not the main source of food for pests. They are called crimson because when they are found on a bush. The forest bug (stink bug) is also found on the berries. It is medium in size, brown in color, and has a flat body.
Close-up photo of a bug
Green arboreal shieldweed
Green shieldweed - front view
Adult berry bug
Remedies for green bugs.
There are several ways to get rid of this insect.
Mechanical collection by hand
The method is completely harmless, but also ineffective. It is impossible to see every green bug on a green leaf. In addition, clutches of eggs can only be detected by chance in a large mass of leaves, especially considering that they are grass-green and are located on the hidden, inner side of the leaves.
Folk remedies
Pros:
- they will not harm people, animals and plants;
- low cost.
Minuses:
- they are not very effective;
- bedbugs are not killed, but only repelled temporarily;
- It must be used constantly, since the validity period is very short.
For bedbugs they use:
- Mustard solution in a ratio of 1:10 dry powder and cool water. It is sprayed on the affected plants immediately after preparation.
- Infusion of onion peel. Can only be used after 5 days to allow it to steep. Apply at least 5 times.
A plant called black cohosh can repel pests from plantings.
Chemicals
There are no insecticides designed specifically to kill bedbugs. Organophosphorus agents with broad effects are used against them. These are Karbofos, Actellik, Phosfamide, Fufanon.
Pros:
- drugs destroy most pests;
- It is enough to treat the affected plants once or twice.
Minuses:
- high toxicity, danger to animals, people and beneficial insects;
- quite high cost;
- rapid resistance developed in bedbugs to drugs.
Where did insects come from in the garden?
To understand the reason for the appearance of such pests, you need to learn more about the features of their life activity. The crimson bug lives quite a long time - up to 24 months (which depends on environmental conditions). This means that insects must survive the winter, for which they seek shelter. The most suitable places for this:
- cracks in old stumps;
- leaf substrate;
- compost residues.
Insects move through the air. They begin to migrate after hibernation - in the first months of spring.
Pests exit the diapause state when the temperature stabilizes (+12°C).
This allows them to live comfortably in their natural environment. But hunger and the need for procreation pushes insects in search of food. Females lay eggs when they receive enough nutrients from plants.
The female lays eggs
Where do worms in berries come from?
Garden pests usually become active in the spring, after overwintering in the soil
The habitat of insects or their larvae (pupae) can also be compost, weeds, fallen leaves and any other organic matter on the site, which is why it is very important to remove all plant residues after harvesting and not use them as shelter for raspberries
However, parasites can also be carried by wind, birds, and even other insects. For example, aphids are carefully spread to trees and shrubs in the spring by ants that feed on the honeydew secreted by this garden pest, and they often provide winter shelter for aphids in their anthill.
Did you know? The well-known thieves' term "raspberry", which in slang means a gang gathering place, a hangout, from an etymological point of view has nothing to do with the sweet berry. In old Odessa, this word originally sounded like “melina”, which translated from Hebrew means “shelter”, but was later somewhat distorted.
Thus, it is impossible to completely protect your site from the invasion of pests, including those that lay eggs in the ovaries and thus cause worms in the fruit. At the same time, a good gardener is still able to create conditions that will reduce the likelihood of such a problem occurring.
So, the main mistakes that need to be avoided in the process of planting raspberries and caring for them come down to the following:
you cannot plant raspberries next to blackberries, including wild ones, as well as meadowsweet, since these plants have common enemies; The appearance of a large number of ants on the site should not be ignored; in addition, it is important to promptly and actively combat aphids, which are carried to crop plants by these “hardworking” insects; humus and compost are a frequent source of infection of beds and gardens with pests, so such fertilizers should be applied in doses and, if possible, combined with soil treatment with modern biological products to kill pests; pests feel much more comfortable in areas with dense plantings, so overly active growth of shrubs must be dealt with in a timely manner; Ignoring such activities as regular weeding is another common reason for an area to become infected with harmful insects and mites
What harm does
Shield bugs are not dangerous to humans. They have a weak mouthparts, so bedbugs cannot pierce the skin. In addition, such insects have completely different food preferences. They feed only on plants and suck out the juice.
If an insect is near a person or on his body, an unpleasant odor will appear.
This is the main harm that shield bugs cause to people. The reason for the appearance of the smell is the release of a special odorous secretion.
Insects spread a disgusting smell
Can they harm people?
Garden bugs have long been recognized as completely safe for humans. They cannot bite, since the oral apparatus is completely unsuited to this. The poison of saliva is dangerous only to insects; its paralyzing effect cannot affect animals and people due to its very low concentration.
The only inconvenience from the presence of green bugs in the apartment is a strong unpleasant odor, which is released very intensely.
Which is not surprising - the forest shield bug is completely disoriented indoors and gets scared. The green bug is not as dangerous as other harmful household insects. Very rarely, an allergic reaction to a stink bug and the secretion of its glands can occur.
Is the bug on raspberries dangerous?
Insects injure plant tissues. They insert their proboscis into their mouthparts to get a portion of juice. While there are few insects, you can not notice them. Such pests cause minimal damage to plants: odorous marks remain on the berries, it is unpleasant to eat raspberries that taste like bugs, and the berries also partially dry out in places where the insects made punctures with their proboscis.
However, with severe infection, the quality of the crop deteriorates. The berries deteriorate more rapidly and the smell becomes more noticeable. In addition, stink bugs can suck the juice from the leaves, leaving dark spots and spots behind. If the infection is severe, the plants stop producing crops and die. The danger is that the insects secrete an odorous secretion, which is why birds are not interested in such individuals.
As a result, no one prevents insects from reproducing and increasing the size of the colony.
When there is nothing to eat on the site, pests fly to other areas.
Bedbugs give off a disgusting smell
How do they get into gardens?
As mentioned earlier, they overwinter in fallen leaves, this can be forests, bushes, and other areas. For example, they can fly to summer cottages from the nearest forest belt. Just fly in, because they fly well, albeit over short distances. Regarding how they choose a place for future habitat, they are guided by smell, since these insects have a developed sense of smell.
After they have chosen a new habitat, they begin to reproduce. They leave clutches of eggs on young leaves on the underside. One clutch can contain up to 40 eggs. The development period from egg to larva is about a week. Both adults and larvae feed on plant sap; for this they select leaves and shoots. If their colony has reached a large number, then they will certainly cause great harm to the plants.
When the berries begin to ripen in the garden, then the presence of stink bugs is more than noticeable. During this period, they become very noticeable, because, having tasted the sweet juice of the berries, they leave behind “fragrant” traces. In addition, their presence is confirmed by damaged berries. The berries that have been infected by the parasite have dark spots and dried areas. The leaves of the bush are also damaged; dark spots are clearly visible on them.
If we talk about orderlies, birds that eat most insects, thereby saving various pests from catastrophic infestations, then they disdain raspberry bugs, which allows parasites to quickly multiply without any barriers. Therefore, if you do not fight them, they can not only spoil the harvest a little, but cause significant harm.
Raspberries smell and taste like a bug, what does that mean?
When bugs sit on a plant or berries, they secrete a special secretion, its functions:
- attracts partners for mating;
- repels natural enemies (birds, insect predators).
Accordingly, unpleasant signs of the presence of insects may remain on different berries. However, not all crops spoil in this way.
Most berries do not have an unpleasant taste; if you use bug control agents in time, you can save the entire harvest.
The smell on the berry attracts partners to mate
Table: bedbugs at different stages of development - what they look like, how they differ
To recognize parasites, you need to understand how they differ at different stages. The general characteristics of larvae, nymphs, and adults are similar. The sizes differ, as well as the color of the outer covers. There are also differences between the development of insects, but upon external examination they are invisible.
Life cycle stage | Body length, mm | Color | Other Features |
Larva | 1-2,5 | Lactic | The outer covers are transparent, so the digestive tract is better visible; the shell is bright red after eating |
Nymph | 3-4 | Light brown | The degree of transparency of the chitinous covers changes; the insect is in many ways similar to the imago, only 1-2 mm smaller |
Imago | 5-8 | Brown | The chitinous covers are slightly transparent; after eating, the body darkens greatly, becoming almost black |
How to get rid of odor
They consider different methods, the choice is made taking into account where the bug crawled: on berries or clothes. In the first case, it will be difficult to completely remove the smell, since it appears when a special secretion is released. The substance penetrates the tissue of the raspberry that the bug tried to eat. This means that the unpleasant taste will most likely remain. But you can try to remove it at least partially.
To do this, rinse the raspberries thoroughly with water; you can also soak them for a while.
If a bug lands on clothing, there is a high probability that a specific smell will appear. In this case, it is easier to remove it: the items are washed using detergents; you can also soak them for several hours using vinegar (removes various odors) or fabric softener (will mask any odors).
Rinsing and soaking in water will remove the smell from the berries.
How do these insects appear in the apartment?
In general, sedentary insects that do not often use their wings may enter living spaces during migration. The reasons for its onset are unexpected untimely cold snaps, intense heat, a sharp and significant increase in humidity, and fires.
In addition, bedbugs can be carried along with collected gooseberries and raspberries, as well as on clothes or shoes. They can be blown by a gust of wind from nearby trees and bushes into an open window.
How dangerous is the mole cricket larva? Read interesting material on this topic. What is the best way to deal with moths in the closet? You can find out effective recommendations on this matter by reading our article.
You can find out what dangers a house bug poses to human health by clicking on the link.
Raspberry bug for alcoholism. Recipes
When a person himself cannot and does not want to cope with addiction, you can help him get rid of this craving for self-destruction. They use different recipes, one of them is based on bedbugs. Giving a person suffering from alcoholism something that smells bad may reduce the severity of the addiction. Recipes:
- They take 5-7 bedbugs, 500 ml of alcohol (it is better to choose the one that the addict uses). The tincture takes several days to prepare. It is then filtered and given to a person suffering from drunkenness. The smelly product should discourage the desire to drink alcohol.
- Dung mushroom. It contains the substance tetraethylthiuramidisulfide, the function of which is the oxidation of alcohol in the body. You can purchase the finished product in powder or capsule form. The dry bulk substance is also prepared at home: mushroom caps are used, fried, when the liquid has evaporated, and crushed.
- Red pepper: 1 tbsp. l. powder, 500 ml 60% alcohol. Add no more than 3 drops of the product to a glass of alcoholic drink each time.
All such drugs have side effects: tachycardia, respiratory failure, etc.
For this reason, it is important to consider the possible risks before using them.
The smell of bedbugs changes the taste of alcoholic drinks
How long to infuse vodka
The duration of preparation of tincture based on bedbugs is 1-2 weeks.
The longer the product sits, the more pronounced its properties become: smell and taste, this can prevent a person suffering from alcoholism from consuming it.
As an alternative, other recipes are also considered, for example, a thyme-based remedy:
- take 400 ml of water, 15 g of dry raw materials;
- the herb is placed in an enamel container, the thyme should be simmered in a water bath for 15 minutes;
- the product is filtered and brought to the original volume with hot water.
Thyme infusion can help with alcoholism
Description of the garden bug
The green bug, also known as the wood bug, belongs to the arthropod insects of the order Hemiptera. Unlike a number of other representatives of the genus, it is not considered a pest, although it causes certain difficulties for owners of garden plots (these are their favorite habitats). The green wood bug is easy to recognize among other insects by its external structure. Popularly known as the stink bug or stink bug.
Appearance
Residents of the middle zone are so accustomed to these representatives of the fauna that when they see a green, bug-like insect, they try to stay away. Features:
- an elongated body 12-14 mm long, similar in shape to a knight’s shield;
- upper body slightly pointed at the sides;
- bright green or brown color (changes depending on the time of year, helping the beetle to better camouflage itself in the foliage of trees);
- short wings with a small span (which is why the stink bug rarely flies);
- brown wing membrane, folded, located in the lower part of the body;
- triangular-looking head.
On a note! The shield plant has a special external digestion. The oral apparatus is represented by a proboscis, designed for piercing fruits with subsequent absorption of the processed mass. Food is digested from the outside using an enzyme contained in the bedbug's saliva.
Glands that release a substance with an unpleasant odor are located on the lower part of the body. It performs three functions at once: protection from natural enemies, attracting representatives of the opposite sex. In addition, the secreted secretion serves as a means of communication between bedbugs. For humans, the secretions of the green bug are not dangerous, but for other insects and birds they are poisonous.
Habitat
Green bugs are most often found in the garden, due to the presence of food. However, their natural environment is forest. The shield bug never chooses human dwellings as a habitat. The reason is the lack of nearby food sources. The tree bug will not travel long distances every time to find it.
Like most insects, the activity of stink bugs is limited to the warm season. With the onset of cold weather, it does not die, but falls into suspended animation, happily waiting for the summer. The green bug overwinters in tree bark or fallen leaves. The transformation that occurs at this point in its color (it becomes completely brown) makes the stink bug invisible and helps it survive the winter safely.
Reproduction
With the onset of warm weather, the mating season begins for insects. After the male fertilizes the female, she lays eggs and attaches them to the bottom of the leaf blade. The green bug (also known as the garden bug), under favorable climatic conditions, makes two clutches (up to 100 eggs each).
The bug plant presents clusters of balls of a beautiful light green color. After half a month, the larvae emerge from them. To facilitate the process, the eggs are equipped with a special lid. Newly hatched larvae have a brown tint and are not much different from an adult insect (except in the absence of wings).
Gastronomic preferences
Despite the fact that the shield bug is considered a herbivore (prefers plant juices, berries, less often attacks flowers and buds), when there is a lack of food, it becomes a scavenger (it sucks out dead caterpillars and other insects with its proboscis). The list of what green bugs mainly feed on includes:
- raspberries;
- currant;
- cherry;
- gooseberry;
- tomatoes;
- elder;
- cereal crops - chickpeas, soybeans, nightshades, rapeseed (in rare cases).
In the absence of berries, the food is the juices of deciduous trees and grass. Given the structure of the oral apparatus, green bugs cannot bite through the thick shell, so they are extremely rare on the bark.
Control measures
The raspberry bug is afraid of strong odors and toxic substances. However, the difficulty of dealing with it lies in the fact that it is not always possible to find offspring, and most remedies do not work on eggs.
This means you need to repeat the treatment procedure when the larvae appear.
Bedbugs hide eggs on the underside of leaves
Chemicals
They must be used at a certain time: before the start of the breeding season of bedbugs (spring) and several weeks before harvesting, or better yet, before flowering, since the chemicals are mostly phytotoxic and harmful to bees. Examples of such products: Actellik, Aktara, Karbofos.
If for various reasons it is unacceptable to use chemicals, less aggressive means are considered.
Actellik has a wide spectrum of action
Biological drugs
They are used at different periods: during flowering and fruiting. Such drugs belong to microbiological agents.
They contain various types of pathogenic particles that are harmful to bedbugs and other insects, but are harmless to plants.
Examples of such tools:
- Boverin;
- Bitoxibacillin.
Boverin – biological drug
Folk remedies
You can treat the area with non-aggressive substances. Bed bugs do not like the following products:
- mustard powder: an aqueous solution is prepared in a ratio of 10:1; more concentrated products cannot be used, as there is a risk of burns on the leaves;
- onion peels: a bucket is filled with peels, filled to the top with water, the product is infused for no more than 5 days, it should be kept in a dark room, then the liquid is filtered and diluted with water (1:4).
It is necessary to observe the concentration of mustard powder in water
Folk remedies
Before treating plants with toxic chemicals, consult traditional garden medicine. There are several ways to deal with garden enemies:
- Cumin and basil are enemies for the garden bug. Well, if you have dried herbs left over from last winter, dissolve three hundred grams of the reserves in eight liters of water and start spraying. Here the smell of plants is poisonous to insects. Therefore, be careful about the age of the grass you choose. If it already smells weak, then it is better not to use it, pick it and dry it in the sun a new one.
- 100 grams of dry mustard are dissolved in a ten liter bucket filled with warm water. Be sure to mix thoroughly, avoiding significant mustard sediment at the bottom of the container. Once every five days, raspberry leaves and other garden crops are treated with this solution. It is not worth repeating the procedure more often, even if bedbugs are active;
- Onion infusion is prepared according to the mustard principle. Onion peel (three hundred grams) dissolves in ten liters of water. The spray solution cannot be used immediately. You need to let it sit for about four days. Spraying must be repeated every five days;
- Grind a large piece of laundry or tar soap into shavings, dissolve it in five liters of warm water, and spray the plants with the solution every three days.
Attention! After carrying out such a procedure, the berries must be washed very thoroughly before eating to prevent poisoning of the body.
Prevention
To prevent bedbugs from appearing on the site in the spring, control measures are taken:
- they repel bedbugs in different ways: they place cotton pads soaked in kerosene nearby, and in the spring they plant black cohosh (a plant that emits an aroma that is unpleasant to pests);
- leaves, plant debris after pruning, weeds - everything is removed immediately, because bedbugs hide here;
- in the spring (in March), and also before the onset of winter (in October-November), they dig up the garden.
The area must be kept clean
Prevention of insects
Agrotechnical measures will help to significantly reduce the “number” of tree bugs on the site. For the winter, pests settle under fallen leaves, where they safely wait out the cold. In the spring, they crawl out pretty hungry and continue their destructive activities. Cleaning up fallen leaves, tops and other plant debris followed by burning will destroy most of the bedbugs that have comfortably settled down to rest. If you also dig up the soil, there is a high probability that you will not encounter green bugs at all next year.
Reviews from people
Inga, 29 years old, Nizhny Tagil
I have raspberries near my house, in the spring I treat them with a biological product, but in the summer the harvest is stinky again. Such products do not work on local bedbugs, so I switched to the chemical preparation Karbofos, it does not harm raspberries if used once - in the spring.
Olga, 34 years old, Samara
I check the raspberry bushes to destroy the green eggs - they are located on the back side. In addition, adult bedbugs can sit here - I collect them in a jar of water. This method will not work for large plantations, but I have a small plot, so for now I’m saving myself this way.
Vera, 41 years old, St. Petersburg
Pests have appeared at the dacha this year and are eating my raspberries. Based on reviews, I chose the drug – Aktara. I decided to fight all the insects at once, rather than prolong this “pleasure.” So far it has been successful, we managed to harvest a good harvest without any smell.
Aktara - a chemical agent
Expert advice
Marinina Evgeniya Vitalievna, entomologist, work experience – 16 years:
Marinina Evgenia Vitalievna
Entomologist, researcher. Work experience 16 years.
• to prevent bugs from landing on raspberries, I recommend a protective net with small cells or agrofibre - at least as a temporary measure while the bugs scatter across areas in search of food in the spring; • biological products do not act immediately - you need to wait a few days, but chemical agents kill insects within a matter of hours; • you can combine different methods of control: folk, chemical, biological, but not all at once, they are used one by one, otherwise the means may lose their properties.
Pest control products should be alternated