Blackberry leaves – Bug infestation

Q: I have found strange bugs eating my blackberry leaves. They are tan, about the size of a BB, and are hard shelled. When I touch one it falls off the plant and acts dead. Damaged leaves have notches along the edges.

A: The behavior and the leaf notches tell the story. You have strawberry weevils chewing on your blackberry foliage. As the name implies, this insect primarily feeds on strawberries in late spring but it often has a second generation in summer. The weevils are hard to control organically. Use carbaryl (Sevin, etc) when they are seen and reapply it if they come back.