The Most Important Strawberry Pests & Diseases and Management Strategies

Wikifarmer

Editorial team

6 min read
09/01/2025
The Most Important Strawberry Pests & Diseases and Management Strategies

Strawberry Pest, Disease, and Weed Management: Comprehensive Guide for Growers

Strawberries suffer from various pests and diseases, while weeds can also cause extensive yield losses. Due to the low market tolerance for impaired strawberries, the growers need to apply an integrated pest and disease management strategy to ensure and protect the good quality of the fruits and the general health and vigor of the plants. 

Which are the most important insects in strawberries

The most common insects that can attack strawberries are mites, strawberry leafrollers, tarnished plant bugs, spotted wing drosophila, and white grubs. 

Mites, also called spider mites, are members of the Acari family Tetranychidae. More specifically, two-spotted mites (Tetranychus urticae) are considered a major pest in strawberries in many countries (e.g., Australia). They are tiny pests that usually live on the underside of the leaves and produce silky webs. The damage caused by the insect feeding (sucking plant juices) can be pretty extensive, especially during warm, dry periods when the insect population rises rapidly. In heavy infestations (over 75 mites per leaflet), the leaves may turn/bronze purple, the plants are stunned, and the yield and fruit quality dramatically reduce. To avoid losses, growers are advised to monitor their crops frequently and control the weed plants in the field. Boosting the population of beneficial insects or introducing new ones, such as predators (for example the mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis) has also very good results (a common practice in controlled environment cultivation). Miticides are also available for strawberries but should be used carefully and always after consulting a licensed agronomist. 

 - Interesting fact: Short-day cultivars are generally more tolerant than day-neutral to mite feeding.

Tarnished plant bugs (Lygus lineolaris) damage the leaves and mainly the fruit (“cat face” deformity) by feeding on sap from berries that are being developed. The insect is mostly active from April to September (in the northern hemisphere), with the nymph stage causing the most severe damage. To minimize damage, closely monitoring the crop is essential, especially right before the blooming period, to avoid damaging the flowers. The insect can survive (overwinter) in numerous alternative host plants, so farmers must control the weeds in the field. However, during the growing period of strawberries, it is advised not to cut the weeds because the pest will migrate to the crop. Natural enemies of the pest, such as parasitic wasps, can also help manage its population. In some cases, the use of insecticide might be necessary. Growers spray once at the start of the first bloom and repeat the application ten days later. However, it is essential to consult a licensed agronomist before applying any chemicals to your crop.

Strawberry leafrollers feed on the leaves, making them brown and eventually die. Finally, White Grubs (the larva stage of the beetles) feed on the roots, weakening the plant.

Which are the most important diseases in strawberries

Some of the significant diseases that can damage Strawberries are Powdery mildew, Anthracnose, Gray Mold (Botrytis cinerea), Leaf Spot, black spot, Verticillium Wilt, Fusarium wilt, Crown rot, and Leaf blight.  

Powdery mildew is a commonly observed disease, especially in strawberries grown under high tunnels. The Sphaerothe camacularis f.sp. Fragariae fungus mainly infects old or new foliage and sometimes fruits, and it is favored by warm weather and high humidity. It can cause rolling of the leaf edges, premature leaf drop in late summer and fall, and white patches of fungal growth in the infected plant parts. One of the most important control-preventive measures is to renovate strawberry beds, remove/destroy crop residues yearly, and avoid overhead irrigation. While some relatively resistant varieties are available in the market, most farmers prefer to spay with fungicides (especially when there was an extensive problem with the disease the previous year). Some common active ingredients that can be used are myclobutanil, sulfur, potassium bicarbonate, or horticultural oil. However, in all cases, it is essential to advise licenced agronomist before selecting and applying a product and always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines (written on the product label). 

Anthracnose is considered one of the major threats to the crop globally, and breeders have focused on creating new resistant varieties to the pathogen, like the Pelican cultivar. It is a fungal disease caused by the fungus Colletotrichum spp. or Elsinore Veneta, which is favored by warm weather and can infect runners, crowns, leaves, and fruits. Ripening and mature fruits are susceptible to infection when the temperature is around 25-30 °C (77-86 °F). The symptoms on the leaves are grey spots with purple borders. Especially in perennial strawberry crops, extensive infection leads to plant death. The fungus spores are carried by splashing rain or irrigation, infecting other plants. The farmers should use disease-free plant material, avoid overhead irrigation, and remove and destroy crop residues and infected plants. 

Gray Mold is a fungal disease, soft rot, that causes extensive yield losses from the field (early fruit development) until the consumer since it is the most common reason strawberries are rejected. Apart from the damage that it can cause, the pathogen is very well known to almost all farmers because it can infect more than 1,000 plant species. Gray Mold is caused by Botrytis cinerea, which mainly infects flowers and fruits, causing up to 80% yield loss under favorable conditions (wet weather) for the pathogen. The infected plant parts have a water-soaked, soft rot appearance and are usually covered by the white-gray fungus mycelium. Since the pathogen's growth is favored by high humidity (rain) and mild temperatures, farmers need to avoid overhead irrigation and improve aeration at the canopy level (pruning, greater plant distances, etc.).

Additionally, regular inspection is needed to remove all infected leaves, flowers, or fruits from the field as early as possible. Protective fungicide application may be needed in areas with known disease history and when the conditions favor the infection. Injured plants (e.g., by frost) are more susceptible.

Except for pathogenic diseases, fruits can develop some physiological disorders. Sunburn, Frogmouth, and Albinism are common problems in strawberries.

Weeds in Strawberry Fields and Weed Management

Strawberries have a poor competitive ability to weeds, leading to significant yield losses. For this reason, most farmers in annual hill cultivation systems (day-neutral strawberries) use plastic mulch. Straw mulch can also be applied, with less efficiency, though. Other available and effective weed management options are flaming hand-weeding and cultivation between the plant rows. Furthermore, before planting, the grower can use winter cover crops and/or crop rotation (pumpkins, corn, sunflowers, and grains), tillage, flaming, soil solarization, and pre-emergent herbicides.

Birds

Another serious issue that all the berry farmers face is the damage caused by animals, such as birds. They may consume more than half of the berries, resulting in a huge crop loss. You can avoid this by protecting the crop with nets and fences. Another thing you can do is purchase an inflamed, big predator bird balloon that will scare the birds away.

To preserve your strawberry's health, you must build an unwelcoming environment for the pests. The best practice, of course, is prevention, especially for viruses. Grow Strawberries in the sun. Water regularly, but keep the soil well-drained to prevent insects from coming. Remove any dead leaves, flowers, or fruits and dispose of them in different places. Also, you can remove any unwanted weeds that can attract various insects. If you have done all that and your plants still suffer, you can seek advice from your local agronomist or scientist. However, please consult your local licensed agronomist if you want chemical control recommendations for these strawberry pests and diseases.

References

  1. https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/strawberries/mite-pests-strawberry-crops
  2. https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-strawberries-home-garden#powdery-mildew-1008165
  3. https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/strawberries/powdery-mildew-strawberries
  4. https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C883&title=Home%20Garden%20Strawberries#Bird
  5. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/plpath-fru-16#:~:text=Anthracnose%20is%20an%20important%20disease,%2C%20runners%2C%20crowns%20and%20fruit.
  6. https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/306338/Common-diseases-of-strawberries.pdf
  7. https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/strawberry-diseases-2-931/
  8. https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/strawberry-diseases-2-931/
  9. https://ipmworld.umn.edu/rao
  10. https://extension.umn.edu/strawberry-farming/strawberry-insect-pests-minnesota
  11. https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/insects/strawberry-pests-methods.html
  • Ries, S.M. (1995) RPD No. 704 ‐ Gray Mold of Strawberry.
  • Faedi, W., Mourgues, F., & Rosati, C. (2000, July). Strawberry breeding and varieties: situation and perspectives. In IV International Strawberry Symposium 567 (pp. 51-59).

Further reading