A number of pests endanger currants in the garden. Not only lice, but also mites and caterpillars eat the leaves, damaging the shoots and preventing a good harvest. What are the signs of which pests have infested the shrubs? Which measures help?

The most common pests of currants

  • Yellow gooseberry sawfly
  • bladder louse
  • leafgall midge
  • gall mite
  • glasswing

gooseberry sawfly

From spring to summer, wasps feed on the leaves of the plant, often leaving only a leaf skeleton. Place an infested leaf under a magnifying glass and you will see the small larvae.

Collect the larvae by hand or just tear off the whole leaf.

bladder louse

The bladder aphid causes discoloration of the leaves. In red currants, the leaves turn red, in white and black varieties they acquire a yellowish tint. Blisters form on the upper surface of the leaves.

If the plant is infested, spray it with dissolved soft soap (44.90€) or other home remedies against aphids. Nettle manure has proven very effective here.

gall midge

The full name of this pest is currant leaf gall midge. It only occurs on blackcurrants. The leaves curl up and the shoot tips wither. Small larvae, which are difficult to fight, are to blame for this.

Cut off all affected shoots and remove curled leaves.

gall mite

Here, the infestation can already be seen in the spring, when the buds are unusually swollen. As the mites develop, they form galls, small bumps on the leaf. The buds die, the leaves deform and eventually fall off.

If infested, spray the plant with tansy decoction every week. Cut off all affected parts of the plant and also collect the fallen leaves and buds.

glasswing

This is a species of butterfly that deposits its larvae in the shoots. They eat their way through the shoot and let it die.

Diseased shoots are cut out. An insect net stretched out in spring prevents the butterfly from laying its brood on the currant.

tips and tricks

Basically, it can be said that strong, healthy currants cope well with most pests. Spray the plant frequently with nettle broth. This strengthens the leaves and limits damage caused by lice, mites and caterpillars.

Category:

Vegetable garden