Farmall Cub

I have a short row of Everbearing strawberries with ripe strawberries. Unfortunately, before I can get the ripest strawberries picked, a bug of some type beats me to them. I've seen some small crickets roaming around under the plants and suspect they might be the culprits. Maybe, maybe not.
I'm looking for suggestions or recommendations for dealing with the crickets (or whatever) and still be able to enjoy the "fruits of my labor". Thanks.

If they are eaten entirely, I would suspect birds rather than insects. Cover the plants with netting so the birds can't get at the fruit.

Don McCombs wrote:If they are eaten entirely, I would suspect birds rather than insects. Cover the plants with netting so the birds can't get at the fruit.

Squirrels have been known to like strawberries, too. Ed

And chipmunks.

Isn't it amazing how they seem to be able to find the ripe fruit before we can get to them? Used to happen to my grandmother and her Cherry tree... She always knew when the cherries were ripe because the birds would be eating at them non-stop... She almost never got to the trees in time to get the ripe fruit!

Mike in La Crosse, WI

Don't think its birds. The places eaten look too uniform. Nice smooth grooves and round holes. Another clue, the damage seems to happen overnight.

Maybe slugs. Look for slim trails.
Ron

Take food grade diatemaceous earth and sprinkle around your plants, I really don't like slugs they like to mess up a nice tomato also

don't rule out terrapins either.

We have terrible problems here with wire worms getting into fruit! thanks; sonny

I had problems with the rabbits in my patch eating them