Raspberry IPM Module
Practical IPM plan for raspberries covering protected, tunnel and outdoor raspberry production.
This page focuses on SWD, spider mite, aphids, thrips, capsids, cane pests, Botrytis and crop hygiene.
Quick summary
Main pest risks
SWD, spider mite, aphids, thrips, capsids, raspberry beetle and cane pests.
Main disease pressure
Botrytis risk increases with dense cane growth, humidity, poor airflow and fruit waste.
Main IPM principle
Keep the canopy open, harvest cleanly, remove waste fruit and monitor ripening fruit closely.
Raspberry IPM is strongly linked to canopy structure, fruit hygiene, cane management and harvest discipline.
The biggest late-season risk is often Spotted Wing Drosophila, especially where ripe or damaged fruit remains in the crop.
Main pest risks
| Pest | Risk level | Key trigger | Inspect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotted Wing Drosophila | Very High | Ripening fruit and waste fruit | Ripe and damaged fruit |
| Spider mites | High | Hot dry tunnel conditions | Lower leaves |
| Aphids | Moderate–High | Soft growth and sheltered canes | Growing tips and young leaves |
| Thrips | Moderate | Flowers and warm weather | Flowers and fruitlets |
| Capsids | Moderate | Young growth and flower buds | Shoot tips and developing fruit |
| Raspberry beetle | Moderate | Flowering and fruit set | Flowers and developing fruit |
| Cane midge / cane pests | Moderate | Damaged cane tissue | Cane bases and splits |
| Botrytis | High | Humidity, dense canopy and fruit waste | Fruit, flowers and old tissue |
Crop stage plan
| Crop stage | Main risk | Practical focus |
|---|---|---|
| Dormant / pruning | Cane disease and carryover pests | Remove old canes and crop debris |
| New growth | Aphids, capsids, early mite | Inspect tips and young leaves |
| Flowering | Thrips, raspberry beetle, Botrytis | Flower checks and airflow |
| Fruit set | Capsid damage, Botrytis | Monitor developing fruit and canopy density |
| Ripening | SWD, Botrytis, spider mite | Harvest hygiene and waste fruit removal |
| Late crop | SWD and disease carryover | Tight picking intervals and clean-down |
| Post-harvest | Carryover pests and disease | Remove waste and reduce overwintering sites |
Monitoring plan
| Area | What to look for | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Ripe fruit | SWD risk, soft fruit, larvae, damage | Every harvest period |
| Waste fruit | Fallen, overripe or damaged fruit | Every harvest period |
| Lower leaves | Spider mite and eggs | Weekly; more often in hot tunnels |
| Shoot tips | Aphids and capsids | Weekly |
| Flowers | Thrips and raspberry beetle | During flowering |
| Cane bases | Cane midge, splits and disease | Weekly in risk periods |
| Dense canopy zones | Botrytis and poor airflow | Weekly |
Environmental risk
| Condition | Likely issue | Management response |
|---|---|---|
| Ripening fruit + waste fruit | SWD | Pick regularly and remove waste fruit |
| Dense humid canopy | Botrytis | Improve airflow and cane spacing |
| Hot dry tunnel | Spider mite | Check lower leaves and reduce stress |
| Soft sheltered growth | Aphids and capsids | Inspect tips and manage crop balance |
| Wet flowers / fruit | Botrytis | Improve dry-down and remove infected fruit |
| Damaged canes | Cane pests and disease | Remove damaged cane material |
| Nearby unmanaged fruit | SWD reservoir | Maintain hygiene and monitoring |
Biological control programme
Preventative phase
Start before pressure becomes obvious.
Focus on:
- maintaining a clean crop base
- removing old canes and crop debris
- checking young growth for aphids and capsids
- monitoring lower leaves for early mite
- supporting naturally occurring beneficials around the crop
Flowering phase
During flowering:
- check flowers for thrips and beetle activity
- maintain airflow
- avoid prolonged wet flowers
- protect beneficial insects where possible
Ripening phase
During ripening:
- remove waste fruit
- avoid overripe fruit accumulation
- increase SWD awareness
- keep picking intervals tight
- remove damaged or infected fruit quickly
Pest-specific notes
SWD
Spotted Wing Drosophila is one of the most important raspberry pests.
Key actions:
- harvest frequently
- remove waste fruit
- avoid overripe fruit build-up
- monitor damaged fruit
- reduce fruit reservoirs near the crop
- maintain cool, clean post-harvest handling where possible
Spider mites
Spider mites can build quickly in hot tunnels.
Key actions:
- check lower leaves
- inspect dry edges and warm areas
- respond before webbing
- reduce plant stress
- support predatory mites where appropriate
Aphids
Aphids are common on soft growth and young tips.
Key actions:
- check shoot tips
- monitor curled leaves
- avoid excessive soft growth
- preserve natural enemies and parasitoids
Thrips
Thrips can be present in flowers and may affect fruit quality.
Key actions:
- inspect flowers during warm periods
- tap flowers over white paper
- monitor hotspots
- avoid unnecessary beneficial disruption
Capsids
Capsids can damage young growth, flowers and developing fruit.
Key actions:
- inspect shoot tips and flower buds
- look for distorted growth
- monitor field edges and sheltered areas
- act early where damage history exists
Raspberry beetle
Raspberry beetle is most relevant around flowering and developing fruit.
Key actions:
- inspect flowers
- monitor fruitlets
- reduce unmanaged reservoirs where possible
- maintain awareness during flowering
Cane pests
Cane pests are linked to damaged or split cane tissue.
Key actions:
- inspect cane bases
- remove damaged cane material
- reduce old cane debris
- maintain good pruning hygiene
Botrytis and fruit hygiene
Botrytis risk increases where:
- fruit is overripe
- flowers stay wet
- canopy is dense
- airflow is poor
- infected fruit remains in the crop
- old plant material is left behind
Useful actions:
- pick regularly
- remove infected fruit
- keep the canopy open
- improve airflow
- remove old canes and leaf debris
- avoid leaving waste fruit under the crop
Canopy and hygiene
Good raspberry canopy management improves:
- airflow
- fruit drying
- spray penetration where sprays are used
- monitoring visibility
- harvest efficiency
- Botrytis reduction
- SWD risk reduction
Useful practices:
- remove old canes
- manage cane density
- keep rows open
- remove fallen fruit
- remove diseased fruit and plant waste
- avoid dense humid pockets
Seasonal calendar
| Period | Main IPM focus |
|---|---|
| Dormant / pruning | Remove old canes and reduce carryover |
| Early growth | Aphids, capsids and cane health |
| Flowering | Thrips, raspberry beetle and Botrytis prevention |
| Fruit set | Capsid damage and canopy airflow |
| Ripening | SWD, Botrytis and harvest hygiene |
| Late season | Tight picking intervals and waste fruit removal |
| Post-harvest | Clean-down and carryover reduction |
Linked tools
Use this module alongside:
Key message
Raspberry IPM depends heavily on harvest hygiene, canopy structure and early monitoring.
The strongest programmes keep the crop open, remove waste fruit quickly, protect beneficial insects where possible, and treat SWD and Botrytis prevention as part of daily crop management.