CANTHARID BEETLE FEEDING DAMAGE TO RUBUS PLANTS IN EASTERN SCOTLAND

In May 1991 the stems of expanding fruiting laterals of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) in plantations in Tayside, eastern Scotland were extens ively chewed by adults of Cantharis obscura L. (Coleoptera: Cantharida e). This appears to be the first record of damage to plants by this gr oup of insects in the UK. In choice tests, the adult beetles damaged e xcised fruiting laterals of both cultivated black raspberry (R. occide ntalis) cv. Cumberland, and red raspberry cv. Glen Prosen, but did lit tle damage to other closely related Rubus species and hybrids, includi ng wild bramble (R. fruticosus agg.) and wild red raspberry (R. idaeus var. vulgatus).