An insect trap that mimics raspberry plants to kill unsuspecting beetles without using pesticide has been invented by scientists in Perthshire.

Researchers at the Scottish Crop Research Institute hope their creation will help protect both the environment and Scotland's multi-million pound soft fruit industry.

As part of the huge soft fruit market, raspberry sales alone bring £12million to Scotland's economy.

In such a competitive field, significant money and research goes into improving the product.

The Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) in Invergowrie has spent decades trying to create the perfect breed of varieties.

In addition to perfection, the SCRI also invest heavily in protection – to stave off predators like the Raspberry beetle which lays its larva inside the fruit. Supermarkets have been known to cancel entire orders after spotting just one among a whole batch.

But with many pesticides being banned around Europe, to beat the beetle scientists are becoming more inventive.

To an insect, the new contraption has the same colour and smell as a raspberry flower.

Nick Birch of the SCRI said: "The beetle sees this as a giant raspberry flower and thinks it’s never had it so good.

“They fly at full speed towards the trap - homing in on the smell from about 50 metres.

“It bangs its head and slips down a slippery surface into soapy water at the bottom.

“The farmer then just opens it up once a week to see what's inside".

Industry leaders at the institute's annual Fruit for the Future showcase were introduced to the trap this afternoon.

It is hoped it will sell well not just across Scotland but across the continent.