Integrated management of pest and beneficial insects in wild blueberry production

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Wild (syn. "lowbush") blueberry is an important crop in eastern Canada and one of the most important horticultural crops in the country. Wild blueberry producers must contend with numerous insect pests that defoliate plants and infest berries. This ultimately reduces yields and profits for blueberry producers in Nova Scotia and other parts of eastern Canada. To improve management of current and emerging pests, wild blueberry producers are eager to reduce reliance on broad-spectrum chemical insecticides while meeting demands of increased environmental stewardship from Canadian consumers and expanding international markets. Thus, producers need to utilize new technologies that are efficacious against pest species and of low hazard to beneficial non-target organisms, while implementing habitat management techniques around their fields that promote communities of beneficial insects that will contribute to crop pollination and pest suppression. This project involves a partnership between the Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia and Dalhousie University. The project will directly tackle insect management challenges in wild blueberries by: (1) determining the potential of new biopesticides and reduced-risk products against blueberry insect pests; (2) monitoring for new invasive insects that may threaten wild blueberry production; (3) determining the hazard of such products to bees and natural enemies; and (4) determining the potential of various habitat management techniques to boost natural enemy and wild pollinator communities around blueberry fields. These activities will lead to improved agricultural sustainability and yields for the Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia, as well as other producers in the region.