Integrated Pest Management of Rhagoletis mendax (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Lowbush Blueberry using Vegetative Field Management

Economic control of Rhagoletis mendax was achieved by applying insecticidal sprays to commercial lowbush blueberry vegetative fields, in a biennial production system, rather than to the fruiting fields, when the threshold was exceeded. The viability of this integrated pest management of R. mendax for lowbush blueberries was demonstrated over a 9-yr interval in New Brunswick where three sites were monitored for 2 yr, eight sites for 4 yr, and one site for 9 yr. Control of R. mendax in lowbush blueberry fields was achieved in 2 yr when the fields were isolated, and in 3 yr when there were adjacent lowbush blueberry fields.