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Who’s eating my strawberries

oliveraustinoliveraustin Posts: 45
in Problem solving
These are small, no longer than a little finger nail and many are smaller. What are they and more importantly how do I get rid of them please.

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  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    They are sawfly oliveraustin I'm sad to say although I managed to keep my strawberries after an attack but mine were in pots.  Where are yours?

    I asked the RHS and they said

    "Big up for the RHS gardening advice service, enquired this afternoon and just had a reply. Their entomologist says "The insects on your strawberries have been caused by the larvae of the strawberry sawfly, Claremontia confusa. It is an uncommon problem that may not occur every year."

    Going to have to try and pick them off then.........."

    I emptied the pots, discarded the dirt and thoroughly washed the strawberry plants as they pupate in the soil. I also rooted some runners and now have a full set again.


    Good luck.

    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • oliveraustinoliveraustin Posts: 45

  • oliveraustinoliveraustin Posts: 45

  • oliveraustinoliveraustin Posts: 45
    I cut one side back. It was just a bed of leaf skeletons. Ok so whats the most deadly lethal killer concoction I can zap them with?
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    edited July 2020
    Ah, that could be more of a problem oliveraustin, don't know of anything I would use in the veg plot I'm afraid.  All I can suggest is that you root as many runners as possible, covering the new dirt to prevent any contamination, and keep the runners in quarantine until you know they are clean.  You will have to make a new strawberry bed as there will be some which overwinter in the soil and be vigilant in the future.

    I think I got off lightly because of the pots but there may others with some other suggestions for beds. Here is my original thread in case it helps
    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/comment/2065411#Comment_2065411
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    I would do this also.

    It isn't a problem I've had, but my temptation would be to dig up and clean up the crowns, removing damaged leaves and any of the caterpillars, shake soil off the roots, then put them in pots for now (in new fresh compost) and monitor them for regrowth.

    In the mean time create a new fresh strawberry bed at a different location. 

    Plant back out when you have healthy new growth and no signs of the caterpillars.

    I would consider planning to include insect netting for the new bed as it may be a species you have locally that will attack again in future.
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318

    As @GemmaJF says, vigilance is the thing. Were these 'new' plants? Bought and planted this year as the sawfly may have come as an added extra. One reason I quarantine everything 'new' that comes into my garden.

    Please excuse the type I can't seem to change it  :/

    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • oliveraustinoliveraustin Posts: 45
    Hmmm. Thanks for replies. I can defoliate and move them to pots. Will have to remember to water them though. I wish there was some way to kill what’s in the soil
  • oliveraustinoliveraustin Posts: 45
    Left a few vaguely viable leaves . Watered and fertilised. Will spray regularly with some sort of soap solution and see if I can rescue in situ. Wish we had birds. This whole garden is a lesson in why ecosystems are important 
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    Even ecosystems have their downsides oliveraustin as the birds that might eat the sawfly larvae would also love the strawberries!

    The soap solution may slow them down a bit but I'm not sure it will get rid of them, picking them off is the best method and disturbing the soil underneath the plants to look for pupae. Best way is to clean and relocate all the plants.

    You won't know whether any of this has worked until next year anyway as there is probably no more food for the caterpillars who will have either pupated or moved on.

    Keep checking the plants and picking off any caterpillars and stay vigilant next year.
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
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