Cantharid beetle feeding damage toRubusplants in eastern Scotland

SUMMARYIn May 1991 the stems of expanding fruiting laterals of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) in plantations inTayside, easternScotland were extensively chewed by adults of Cantharis obscura L. (Coleoptera: Cantharidae). This appears to be the firstrecord of damage to plants by this group of insects in the UK. In choice tests, the adultbeetles damaged excised fruitinglaterals of both cultivated black raspberry (R. occidentalis) cv. Cumberland, and red raspberry cv. Glen Prosen, but did little damage to other closely related Rubus species and hybrids, including wild bramble (R. fruticosus agg.) and wild red raspberry (R. idaeus var. vulgatus).