Curled strawberry leaves

[Principia]

Does anyone know what pest is making a nest in my strawberries?

It is some kind of green caterpillar (with radioactive bright green gunk when you squish them). It folds the edge of the leaf around itself and has some kind of silk to keep it in place.

I noticed some on my blueberry bushes earlier in the year and squished them, now there are some on my alpine strawberries so I squished them too.

However, now I'm wondering if I'm squishing beautiful butterflies, I'm prepared to share in the name of beauty but not in the name of pests

Thanks

[hiyatim]

i think we will need photos, if they are sticking the leaves round each other they may be preparing to pupate which would mean low levels of damage and plenty of beauty

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Principia, that sounds like the Strawberry Tortrix Moth. The caterpillar rolls the leaf edge and spins a silk web to create it's home. It feeds on the leaves and flowers then drops to the ground where it forms a cocoon which overwinters in plant debris. The following spring the Tortrix Moth emerges ready to lay more eggs. So you need to keep removing the caterpillars.

[Kimby]

Hi Lesley

Would that be the same pest that's doing the same thing but to my raspberry plants?! Have only seen one but it's doing exactly the same as described by Principia - I didn't get a chance to squish it as it wriggled away too quickly!

Kim

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Kim, the Strawberry Tortrix Moth only attacks strawberry plants. The one that is attacking your raspberries is the Rose Tortrix Moth. Aswell as raspberries it will attack apple and pear trees, peach trees, plum trees, quince trees, currant bushes and also rose bushes. Pick off any infected leaves and destroy them.

[Principia]

Thanks Lesley - I tried to take a picture but the blighters were too small. I've been picking and squishing. Unfortunately for these pests, they are easy to spot.

Kimby, I've been crushing the caterpillar inside the leaf - I pick off the leaf, squish the rolled over bit and then open it to make sure anything inside is dead.

[Kimby]

Have been trying to get rid of the little blighters but they always wriggle away. Thanks for the advice though Lesley - will be more vigilant in future. The moth has probably been attracted by the vast number of rose bushes that I have but I don't want more trouble from them as I'm planning to get more fruit bushes next year!