Harvest-time insect warning for blueberry growers in Michigan
Rufus IsaacsDepartment of Entomology, Michigan State University –
Monitoring traps and sampling fruits can improve blueberry management during the harvest season.
Michigan has had a mild winter and is experiencing a warm summer, leading to early activity of some insect pests as the peak of the blueberry harvest approaches. Michigan State University has seen an increase in catches of blueberry maggots and spotted wing drosophila at various monitoring sites in southwest Michigan over the past week. Growers with ripe blueberries should protect their fields with effective insecticides.
For these pests, there are several options with high efficacy and short pre-harvest intervals that can be used during the harvest season. See the Expansion of Michigan State University Bulletin E154, “Michigan Fruit Management ManualRecommendations can be found under “This publication is available in Hard copy and as downloadable PDF.
To determine the correct time to apply insecticide against spotted wing drosophila, place surveillance traps baited with brewer’s yeast or a commercial attractant in the fields as shown in Figure 1.
The blueberry fly can be controlled by applying it every 10 to 14 days, but shorter spray intervals are needed to protect against the spotted wing drosophila. You can also monitor berry infestation by taking weekly fruit samples from fields that are about to be harvested to make sure they are free of insects. Michigan State University has a short, 8-minute video Explain this method and give information about the simple equipment needed.
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