Something’s Killing North Carolina’s Blueberries. Scientists Finally Found the Culprit

Key Points:

• Researchers at North Carolina State University have identified the beetle species attacking blueberry farms in North Carolina as Prionus imbricornis, marking the first confirmed sighting of this pest in the state.
• The larvae of P. imbricornis feed on blueberry bush roots, potentially killing the plants, and have been causing increasing damage since at least 2010, complicating pest control due to their underground habitat and similarity to other longhorn beetle larvae.
• The team used pheromone traps to capture adult beetles and genetically sequenced larvae to confirm the species with high accuracy, aiding in precise identification crucial for effective pest management.
• With no easy current solution, researchers are now studying optimal insecticides and timing for interventions to control P. imbricornis, emphasizing the need for species-specific treatment plans due to differences in beetle life cycles.
• The study, published in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management, encourages other regions to identify their Prionus species infestations to tailor control strategies appropriately and protect blueberry crops.