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control weeds in bordering crops and hedgerows. Since tarnished plant bugs are 

 early season pests, it may be helpful to avoid planting early maturing 

 strawberry cultivars if this insect is troublesome for you. 



In New York state, as few as one TPB nyntph per fruit inflorescence is 

 thought to result in 30% fewer fruits with a corresponding 18% loss in berry 

 weight. Therefore, it is very inportant to be aware of this insect and the 

 potential for damage it can cause. 



Strawberry Bud Weevil 



The strawberry bud weevil, or "clipper" beetle, ( Anthonomus signatus Say) 

 is a dark reddish-brown beetle with black patches on its wings, and measures 

 about 1/10 of an inch in length. Weevils hibernate as adults in trash in or 

 near strawberry fields, coming out to feed and lay eggs in the developing fruit 

 buds in the spring. The female lays an egg in an unopened blossom bud then 

 girdles the stem below the bud so that the bud stem breaks, wilts, and falls to 

 the ground. The beetle grub inside feeds largely on the pollen of the unopened 

 bud. The legless, white grub feeds for about 4 weeks then changes to a pupa 

 and eventually to a weevil within the bud in which it developed. The newly- 

 emerged beetles feed for a short time then go into hibernation until the 

 following spring. 



Yield losses due to egg-laying damage caused by the strawberry bud weevil 

 (SEW) can range from 50 to 100%. An average of one cut bud per 1.5 feet of 

 row, or one female beetle found per 40 row-feet, can result in economic 

 damage. 



Since strawberry bud weevils overwinter in wooded areas, preferring areas 

 with early flowering species such as red bud and wild brambles, avoiding such 

 areas may reduce potential SBW damage. Also, there is some indication that 

 early flowering cultivars attract overwintering SBW, and therefore can be used 

 as a "trap" crop. 



Because of the potential seriousness of this pest, it is inportant to watch 

 for the incidence of SBW in early cultivars. Look for cut buds, or the tiny 

 adults on the blossoms themelves. (Adults also feed on strawberry pollen.) 



To help control SBW, remove excess foliage and mulch from renovated 

 strawberry beds immediately after harvest to discourage overwintering. If SBW 

 damage has been severe, plow under strawberry beds to reduce overwintering 

 populations. 



Spitt lebug 



Spittlebugs ( Philaneeus spp. ) are soft-bodied, tan to greenish, elongate 

 bugs about 1/8 to 1/4 inch long. The adults have blunt heads and prominent 

 eyes. Wings can be marked with spots, stripes or bands. 



Spittlebugs usually overwinter as eggs in the stems of grasses or weeds. 

 Eggs hatch in the spring at about the time new strawberry leaves and flower 



