Raspberry fruit moth

The raspberry fruit moth (Carposina rubophaga) is a specific pest belonging to the Carposinidae family within the order Lepidoptera. It is recognized as a significant threat to raspberry cultivation, negatively impacting both fruit quality and yield volumes.

The primary host plant is the raspberry. Larvae cause the most significant damage by boring into the developing fruits, consuming the internal tissues and seeds, which renders the berries unmarketable and susceptible to rot.

The biological cycle of this moth is synchronized with the raspberry phenology. The larvae overwinter in soil cocoons. Once conditions are favorable in spring, pupation occurs, followed by the emergence of adults that deposit eggs directly onto the young raspberry fruits.

The primary symptom of infestation is the premature ripening and distortion of the fruit. In many cases, the presence of frass and larval activity inside the drupelets leads to rapid fungal contamination, resulting in complete fruit rot before harvest time.

Effective management strategies include the following:

• cultivation of soil in the spring and autumn to disrupt the pupation sites;
• diligent removal and destruction of infested berries during the season;
• monitoring adult activity using specific pheromone traps;
• application of approved insecticides during critical periods of egg-hatching.