Oops, forgot to include a link. Man, it really is a dead-ringer for a yellow jacket. -Glenn

Here is a link that might be useful: Raspberry Crown Borer

Glen,

We get them here in KS. I've talked with a fruit specialist from MU about it. He said they are one of the reasons MO bramble patches are replanted every 6-8 years. He said he's personally dug up crowns with multiple borers in them. I plan to use Mustang Max in the late season to try to control. This will do nothing for the grubs already in the canes (two year life cycle) but may, perhaps, keep new eggs from being laid on canes. If this doesn't do the trick, I will probably use Capture/Brigade 2ec as a soil drench. I've not heard of any cultural practices, other than replanting, that will control this pest. Lastly, no need to worry about spray on the berries. Crown borer comes out long after berries have been harvested.

Glen,

I should offer one qualification on that last statement. All of the berries I grow are gone by the time Crown borer shows up, but you may have later ripening varieties than I. Around here borer shows up mid Sept. Zone 6 - 190-200 frost free days.

Glenn,
I would like to thank you for your post, this spring I will plant 15 Raspberry plants and would have had no idea that they were anything other then yellow jackets, at least now I know what to look for.
Ken

Hi Olpea-
My everbearing raspberries seem to keep bearing right up until the first frost, but I usually see these guys probably a month or so before that IÂm guessing itÂs late Sept, or early Oct for me. I wish I had taken a pic last year, but at the time, I just thought they were simple yellow jackets. For me, they seem to just attach themselves to the berry. IÂll go out to pick and see like 8 or so of them in one of my patches sometimes all next to each other. IÂve never seen the small holes that in the base of the cane that people talk about, but then again IÂve never looked closely.

ItÂs a bit of a shock when you go to pick a berry and then see what you think is a wasp attached to it. I have seen the shepherdÂs hook thatÂs described here , but I never knew what caused it before.

From my 5 minutes of searching, it looks like Capture/Brigade is recommended more than the Mustang Max. Do you know if itÂs rated for home use? If it is, it looks like I want to get right on obtaining it because it looks like itÂs best sprayed in early April.
Thanks for replying!

-Glenn

Hi Ken-
Hopefully you will never wind up with this pest! I wouldnÂt have known about them either except I saw someone mention them on the NAFEX fruit email list.
-Glenn

Glen,

It probably doesn't help that there used to be a blackberry PYO 1/4 mile from us. Plus there are lots of wild brambles around. When I discovered the pest, I tried parasitic nematodes. Couldn't tell that it did anything. Even the research suggests about 30-40% control with nematodes. Capture/Brigade is supposed to offer good control, but it is restricted use. That's the main reason I chose to get my pesticide applicator's. There just doesn't seem to be any other control available. Although I plan to sell blackberries commercially, I dont' believe Capture is labeled for agricultural use only. However, it comes in gallon size, and costs around $300 per gallon. If you are interested in getting a pesticide certification, I think there are different rules in different States. Ours is an Ag State, so they don't burden people too much with the requirements. Some states require continuing education every year, but ours doesn't. For certification here, you have to buy a book, study it, pay the fee, and pass a test. The test is open book. If interested, look online for your state's Dept. of Agriculture. They will probably have the requirements for certification online.

Hi Olpea-
I have thought about getting my private applicator's license, so I could obtain things like Ferbam for my apple trees. It sounds like this is yet another reason. But, unfortuately, my local univerisity started its classes a couple weeks ago, so I've missed the deadline for this year. Do you think I could hire someone to do the spray? Thanks, -Glenn

Glen,

Are you sure the classes are only offered once a year? That sounds strange. Remember there are two types of pesticide licenses. One type is a commercial applicator's license. This license allows you to spray restricted use pesticides for pay. Most lawn/landscaping companies have personnel with this type of license. It is more involved and costs more money. The other type of license is a private applicator's license. This allows you to purchase RU pesticides to spray on your own property/crops. This is less costly, involves less requirements, and lasts longer (in our state this license lasts for 5 years, whereas, a commercial license must be renewed every year). The University hosts the test for commercial licenses every once in a while, but for private applicator's, you can take the test anytime, by appointment at the extension office. Cost 25 dollars.

I don't believe Ferbam is restricted use (RU). I find there is a lot of confusion about what RU means. There are commercial products for "Ag Use only" but these are not RU, meaning you don't have to have an applicator's license to purchase or apply them. Anyone can purchase them, but, per the label, they are only supposed to be applied to crops intended for sale. Then there are RU products, which can only be purchased and applied by a certified applicator. The reason for this is that, according to the training materials, with RU products there can be an extra risk to the environment, and/or the applicator.

You can hire someone to spray, or if you know someone with a private applicator's license, they can treat the soil for you (Capture is used as a soil drench for crown borer) if they don't charge you for it. But if you plan to use RU pesticides, you ought to just get your own license. The training is informative and helpful for all pesticides in general.

I wouldn't panic about getting your rasp. treated this year. I doubt it will kill them, but could make them unproductive.

Glen,

Are you sure the classes are only offered once a year? That sounds strange. Remember there are two types of pesticide licenses. One type is a commercial applicator's license. This license allows you to spray restricted use pesticides for pay. Most lawn/landscaping companies have personnel with this type of license. It is more involved and costs more money. The other type of license is a private applicator's license. This allows you to purchase RU pesticides to spray on your own property/crops (or spray your neighbor's without pay). This is less costly, involves less requirements, and lasts longer (in our state this license lasts for 5 years, whereas, a commercial license must be renewed every year). The University hosts the test for commercial licenses every once in a while, but for private applicator's, you can take the test anytime, by appointment, at the extension office. Cost 25 dollars.

I don't believe Ferbam is restricted use (RU). I find there is a lot of confusion about what RU means. There are commercial products for "Ag Use only" but these are not RU, meaning you don't have to have an applicator's license to purchase or apply them. Anyone can purchase them, but, per the label, they are only supposed to be applied to crops intended for sale. Then there are RU products, which can only be purchased and applied by a certified applicator. The reason for this is that, according to the training materials, with RU products there can be an extra risk to the environment, and/or the applicator. RU products clearly say "Restricted Use Only" on the front of the label. RU products may, or may not be, "For Ag Use Only."

You can hire someone to spray. Or if you know someone with a private applicator's license, they can treat the soil for you (Capture is used as a soil drench for crown borer. All Capture is, is a short lived pyrethroid) if they don't charge you for it. But if you plan to use RU pesticides, you ought to just get your own license. The training is informative and helpful for all pesticides in general.

I wouldn't panic about getting your rasp. treated this year. I doubt it will kill them, but could make them unproductive (A neighbor tore his patch out because they quit producing, but I don't think he lost plants).

Sorry for the double post.

Hi Olpea-

Thanks for your replies. It looks like you may be right about the classes. When I first read the application, I was thinking I needed to take all 5 sets of 2 classes, but now I realize that I just need to pick one of the 5 sets which is a lot more do-able. HereÂs is the link to the University of Rhode IslandÂs Pesticide Safety & IPM Training classes. I may just do that.

In the event that I canÂt do the class for whatever reason, IÂm afraid I donÂt yet know anyone with a commercial or private applicatorÂs license. Any idea what type of company I would call? A landscaping service perhaps? But, as you mention, it would be a good class for me to take anyway.

Wow $300 a gallon. (I saw $375!) Geez. I like my raspberry plants, but that, plus the applicators license fee, is getting a bit much. Do you know of any way to buy smaller quantities?

Is Mustang Max actually rated for RCB?

*sigh*. Raspberries used to be my easiest fruit!

-Glenn

Yea, that is pretty expensive. Unfortunately, I don't think they sell Capture in anything less than one gallon containers. It makes it tough for anyone wanting a small quantity. Chemical dealers won't sell a smaller quantity because it's illegal to sell a pesticide in any container other than its original. However, Capture has a pretty wide label and can be used on many fruit and vegetable crops as a spray. So you don't have to use it just for brambles.

$375/gal for Capture sounds pretty high. I've never ordered from them, but you might try Reichman (see link). I see they have Bifinthrin, which I think is generic Capture. Download the label to make sure

Mustang Max is also RU and has a very wide label. RSB is not listed on the label. However, our state Regs. state that a certified applicator can use an insecticide on an insect not specifically listed on the label, if the following conditions are met:

- The crop to be sprayed is listed on the label.
- The insecticide is labeled for the same class of insects as the insect you are targeting.
- The label doesn't specifically prohibit the use of the product on the targeted insect.
- All other requirements are followed i.e. PHI, REI, etc.

Here is a link that might be useful: Reichman