Beneficial and invasive pest insects in the wild blueberry agroecosystem

The spotted wing drosophila (SWD) has created an emergency approach to insect pest control that is reactive and not necessarily a least-toxic strategy. This research should result in a better monitoring procedure for the adult flies, an action threshold, and better knowledge of SWD trivial movement within and between blueberry fields and least toxic strategies for management of SWD. This knowledge should result in a much better integrated pest management strategy than currently exists (applying a protective insecticide to the crop upon capture of the first male SWD). An additional focus of the research is on the diverse, sometimes abundant, but temporally variable native bee community that exists in Maine wild blueberry fields. Quantification of the spatial and temporal variation in native bee populations and the resulting variation in crop yield will provide a database for more informed decision-making about investment in pollination resources by growers. Outcomes will be a more informed grower community regarding the ecosystem service provided by native pollinators and how increasing costs of managed bees in the future will affect net profits, but also decisions on native bee conservation efforts.

Investigator: Drummond, F.A.

Unit: School of Biology & Ecology

Termination Date: 30-Sep-19