Blueberry Gall Midge: A Key Pest of Rabbiteye Blueberries

摘要

Blueberry gall midge, Dasineura oxycoccana (Johnson) is a key pest of rabbiteye blueberries that produces dramatic yield losses in the southeastern United States. Blueberry gall midge is a relatively minor pest of southern highbush blueberries where injury is largely confined to vegetative buds. Adults emerge in early spring and females oviposit between developing flower and leaf bud scales. Larvae feed inside the buds, causing deformities in developing leaves; damage to flower buds causes necrosis and frequently results in flower bud abortion. To determine the influence of temperature on survival and rate of development, we exposed flower buds to various temperatures in environmental chambers. Larval and pupal development at the lowest temperaturetested suggests that growers need to apply insecticides for blueberry gall midge early in the season while temperatures are still low.