Strawberry field research plots. Photo: Hannah Burrack

Strawberries are grown on 1600 acres in North Carolina, and our crop is third in value nationally, behind only California and Florida. Several insect and mites feed on strawberries and cause damage to different parts of the plants at different times of the year.

Post transplant pests

Crickets – Feed on leaves

Cutworms – Feed on leaves and stems

Cyclamen mites – Feed in crown

Twospotted spider mites – Feed on leaves

Pre harvest pests

Aphids – Feed on leaves

Red imported fire ants – Nuisance pests in fields

Strawberry clipper – Feed on buds and flowers

Twospotted spider mites – Feed on leaves

Harvest period pests

Flower thrips – Feed on flowers and young fruit

Sap beetles – Feed on overripe fruit

Slugs and snails – Feed on leaves and fruit

Spittlebugs – Feed on leaves and stems

Spotted wing drosophila – Feed on fruit

Sugarcane beetles – Feed on roots and fruit

Tarnished plant bugs – Feed on fruit

Whiteflies – Feed on leaves

Resources

NC Strawberry Diagnostic Key
Strawberry IPM Guide – Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium

The Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium Strawberry Integrated Pest Management Guide is a regional resource for the southeastern US and is updated annually.

Insect and Disease Control of Fruits – NC Agricultural Chemicals Manual

The North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual is a North Carolina specific resource for management tools.