Insect
Wasps
Social wasps that in late summer shift from eating insects to feeding on sugar, boring into ripe soft fruit and grapes and enlarging existing damage rapidly.
Symptoms to Look For
- Ripe fruits with large ragged cavities where wasps have hollowed out the flesh
- Damage concentrated in late summer and early autumn when wasp colonies are largest
- Secondary fungal rot developing in feeding wounds
Affected Plants
ApplePearPlumGrapeFigPeachStrawberry
Organic Solutions
Fine mesh bags
Slip individual paper or muslin fruit bags over clusters of grapes or individual fruit to physically exclude wasps from ripening fruit.
Wasp traps
Hang wasp traps baited with sugary liquid around the garden from late July to reduce local populations before peak damage season.
Prevention
- Harvest fruit as soon as ripe - do not leave over-ripe fruit on the tree
- Remove fallen fruit daily during late summer as it rapidly attracts large numbers
- Locate nest sites in spring when colonies are small and have them treated if close to the garden
Garden, by Willowbottom recommends only organic, wildlife-friendly solutions. No synthetic pesticides, no harmful chemicals - ever.