Oe. Liburd et al., SUSCEPTIBILITY OF HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY CULTIVARS TO LARVAL INFESTATION BY RHAGOLETIS-MENDAX (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE), Environmental entomology, 27(4), 1998, pp. 817-821
Eighteen highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum L., cultivars were e
valuated for larval infestation by the blueberry maggot fly, Rhagoleti
s mendax Curran. Most cultivars were evaluated during 3 field seasons.
Significantly fewer maggots were found in berries of early-ripening c
ultivars, 'Earliblue' and 'Bluetta', than in later maturing cultivars
such as 'Bluehaven', 'Coville', 'Darrow', 'Elizabeth', and 'Lateblue'.
The oviposition period of R, mendax is synchronized with the ripening
dates of mid-season cultivars (late July to early August) in Rhode Is
land. This results in more oviposition and higher larval infestations
in mid- and late-season susceptible cultivars. Among the mid- to late-
season cultivars, 'Northland' and 'Herbert' berries had consistently f
ewer maggots than other cultivars. These cultivars, along with Bluetta
and Earliblue appear to be good candidates for inclusion into integra
ted pest management programs.