What is the name of a bedbug found on raspberry? - briefly
There is no true bedbug that infests raspberry; the primary pest associated with raspberry plants is the raspberry aphid (Amphorophora rubi).
What is the name of a bedbug found on raspberry? - in detail
The insect that infests raspberry plants and is often mistaken for a bed‑bug is the raspberry aphid, Amphorophora rubi. It belongs to the order Hemiptera, family Aphididae. Adults are small (1.5–2 mm), soft‑bodied, green to reddish, with cornicles on the abdomen. Nymphs are wingless, pale, and cluster on new shoots and leaf undersides.
Biology
- Holometabolous development with viviparous birth of live nymphs.
- Two‑generation cycle in temperate regions: overwintering eggs on woody stems, spring hatching of fundatrices that give rise to clonal populations.
- Winged alates appear in late summer, disperse to secondary hosts, and return to raspberry for oviposition.
Distribution
- Native to Europe and western Asia; introduced to North America and Oceania through horticultural trade.
- Found wherever cultivated or wild Rubus species grow.
Host range
- Primary host: Rubus idaeus (red raspberry) and other cultivated raspberries.
- Secondary hosts: blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), gooseberry (Ribes uva‑crispa), and ornamental roses.
Damage
- Sap extraction causes leaf curling, yellowing, and stunted growth.
- Honeydew excretion promotes sooty mold, reducing photosynthesis.
- High densities can lead to premature shoot death and reduced fruit yield.
Management
- Cultural: remove plant debris, prune out infested shoots, rotate crops away from Rubus.
- Biological: release of natural enemies such as lady beetles (Coccinellidae), lacewings (Chrysopidae), and parasitoid wasps (Aphidius spp.).
- Chemical: systemic neonicotinoids (e.g., imidacloprid) applied according to label rates; contact pyrethroids for severe outbreaks.
- Monitoring: sticky traps for alates, regular visual inspection of new growth.
Correct identification of Amphorophora rubi is essential for targeted control, preventing unnecessary pesticide use and minimizing economic loss in raspberry production.