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What are these 'beetles' on my raspberries?

Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
in Fruit & veg
I've been growing autumn raspberries for 2 years now and I find that as the berries ripen these beasties appear in huge numbers.
About 50% of the berries I pick has one of these on it.
Anyone know what they are?
And I'm slightly anxious to ask what are they're doing on my nicely ripened raspberries? - there's no obvious damage


Billericay - Essex

Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Its a shield bug. It will not harm your raspberries.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited September 2022
    Thanks @figdetbones that's good to know.
    Any idea why there are so many of them on my raspberries?
    I don't see them anywhere else in the garden.

    Ps - having just done some googling, whilst they don't harm the raspberries they (stink bugs) DO leave an unpleasant smell on them.
    I'd been wondering why so many tasted foul - now I know..

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited September 2022
    There are lots of different shield bugs in the UK  … plus their various ‘instar’ stages.  @wild edges may be able to say which one that is. 

    I’m not aware of the US ‘stink bug’ firm having made it over here … yet. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I’ve been having a look around … excuse a personal question 😉 , but do yours have hairy legs?

    Could they be the Sloe shield bug?

    https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2021/05/shieldbug-identification/  

    OH and I love shield bugs 😊  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Some of the berries taste as I would expect - lovely and enjoyable, but there are a lot that are unpleasant and not in the least enjoyable, there's no obvious damage to them. I've wondered why for ages.
    I used to have a patch of Glen Moy - they also had the shield bugs and I had the same problem with nasty tasting berries. I dug them out last summer and am replacing with Malling Jewel this winter. Maybe I didn't need to.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Thanks Dove - I've had a look and it doesn't have hairy legs - I use to have, but much like my hair most of it is gone now :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Hmmm 🧐 we need someone who knows …

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    Could be a Dock Bug.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Well done @Sheps!
    Certainly looks  like the one-
    https://thefieldclub.org.uk/2021/09/28/bugs-and-raspberries/

    Now I have the dilemma of what to do about it....


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    @Pete.8 you're welcome, great looking critter too.
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