Q What’s eating holes in the leaves on my raspberry canes?

Peter Bailey, By email

A Leaf damage on raspberries is quite unusual – usually it’s birds that eat the fruit. Caterpillars do nibble at the leaves and make holes, but this damage is just cosmetic and won’t harm the plants or affect the crop. It could also be capsid bugs, which are sap-sucking pests that usually attack in hot weather. They affect the growing tips of many plants and cause ragged holes in the leaves. Again this damage is usually just cosmetic and, since the raspberries are to be eaten, and bees pollinate the flowers, it’s best not to spray with pesticides.