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Something is eating my strawberries.
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Posted by
lnewport Austin, TX (
My Page) on
Wed, Apr 27, 11 at 15:34
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Hi everyone,
My strawberries always develop rounded out holes in them before they finish ripening up. I know it's some sort of insect but I don't know what. I had the same problem with peaches and tomatoes last year and someone here told me what it was but I can't find the thread where I posted the pictures.
I think the same insect and was wondering if there is anything I can do. I do not have a picture of the strawberry in question anymore but once I do I can post it if anyone needs it to help me out.
I have my strawberries under tulle so I know it's not birds attacking them and the holes are perfectly round and rounded out (like someone took a miniature spoon and scooped out a bit of flesh).
Does this sound familiar to anyone and if so can you tell me what I need to do to protect my strawberries (and soon tomatoes and peaches) so I can have some to eat?
Thank you!
Lisa |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Something is eating my strawberries.
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| Birds, furry critters, several insects and some arthropods do that too. Always best to try and catch them in the act. Flour will reveal tracks. Dan |
RE: Something is eating my strawberries.
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| I have had very tiny bugs eat holes in the bottom area of strawberries. They always eat only on the largest and ripest ones. Perhaps toads would help. |
RE: Something is eating my strawberries.
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- Posted by gjcore 5 South Aurora Co. (My Page) on
Wed, Apr 27, 11 at 20:33
| I'd guess at slugs. Do you have mulch around the plants to keep the fruit off of the soil? |
RE: Something is eating my strawberries.
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| In my garden it would be either slugs, roly polys, or earwigs, or all three. |
RE: Something is eating my strawberries.
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@gjcore
Yes I have the strawberries on some spanish moss. Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I'll throw down some flour tonight. Not sure how to get any toads .. I did find two in my front yard maybe I'll get my husband to grab them next time and place them in the garden. Yea... I'm not touching them myself. |
RE: Something is eating my strawberries.
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| Your problem is ROBINS. These birds go from strawberry to strawberry poking a hole in each one. The strawberry than starts to turn black and another berry bites the dust. I started putting bird netting over the plants as soon as they start to turn white. This is the only thing that works, unless you like shooting birds. Good luck JOHN |
RE: Something is eating my strawberries.
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| Hi John, I doubt the problem are robins because wouldn't I see some movement in the tulle I have covering the strawberries? |
RE: Something is eating my strawberries.
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| I had voles that did that. Do you see any paths about an inch and a half wide in nearby grass, or holes about that size? |
RE: Something is eating my strawberries.
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| Hello, I have the same problem, so I went out with a light last night at midnight to try to catch the culprit. It only took a few seconds to spot slugs all over the strawberries. There were about a hundred of them in my raised strawberry bed, in a 12 square foot area...I couldn't believe how many there were. Based on my research, either slug bait or a strip of cppper around the bed will keep these slimy culprits off your strawberries. Hope this helps! |
RE: Something is eating my strawberries.
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I have good results with a combination of things to protect our harvest:
-ammonia water spray (diluted 1:5 with more water than ammonia) in early evening or after a rain every few days
-lettuce leaves on soil & it attracts them then spray or skewer them after lifting leaf up daily if you can
-iron phosphate types of slug killer every 2 weeks or when no longer visible on top of straw mulch
-black plastic netting loosely laid over berry patch I have learned that though I like the beauty of our 2 rows of strawberries along the length of the driveway border I have to live with the netting look if I want berries to eat. Corrine |
RE: Something is eating my strawberries.
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| Slugs eat holes. Sap beetles eat holes. Strawberry weevils aren't supposed to eat the fruits, but I've seen a few digging holes into berries. Birds scissor out beak-shaped slashes. |
RE: Something is eating my strawberries.
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| Not only is something eating my strawberries but I now find very fine cobwebs on the plants. These are plants that are in a large strawberry jug. Does anyone have any ideas as to what to do to prevent this? |
RE: Something is eating my strawberries.
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| I had the same problem. As soon as the strawberries were starting to ripen a chunk of the fruit was eaten out. The strawberry plant was in a pot on a balcony, so i thought it was unlikely to be slugs. In the end I set up a time-lapse camera and caught the culprit - a cockroach feasting at night! |
Here is a link that might be useful: Timelapse Video of Cockroach Eating My Strawberry
RE: Something is eating my strawberries.
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| Smileclick, thank you for the timelapse video of the cockroach, that is exactly what I suspected, but my husband did not take me seriously...now I have proof. |
RE: Something is eating my strawberries.
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Is there anything that will steal the entire berry? Last year every time I had one close to being ready to be picked, it was taken.
I'm trying to come up with a new plan of attack this year. I live in a rural area with woods on 3 sides, so lots of critters. I feel like every year I have to come up with a battle plan so I can actually enjoy my fruits and veggies.
I'm thinking this year I'll do some of those hanging strawberry bags on my deck, and then drape them with netting. For the last two years I have attempted to grow strawberries and have yet to enjoy one single berry because of the nasty little thieves who keep stealing them all :( I do not plant them to share with the wildlife. The strawberries are the only thing I can't seem to get any of. Everything leaves my blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries alone, and since switching to trellises, stopped losing so many cucumbers and squashes to bugs. |
RE: Something is eating my strawberries.
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I buried my strawberry plants right in the ground and what I thought were harmless grubs turned out to be strawberry eating pests! I also made the mistake of letting plants grow around it and although I will take care of that ASAP, I need to know what plants are attracted the moisture all the plants are creating. Then I can finally take forth in ridding my delicious straw berries of pests. Can somebody please tell me what pests I have probably attracted, and what I can do about it? I would like to use an organic insecticide and mabey other insects that are of help. (Note: I already know I have, strawberry sap beetles, roily ploys and possibly strawberry weevils.)
If anyone can help me out please do!
Thanks! |
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