Integrated management of pest and beneficial insects in wild blueberry production

Wild（syn.“lowbush”）蓝莓是加拿大东部的重要作物，也是该国最重要的园艺作物之一。 野生蓝莓生产者必须与许多使植物落叶和侵染浆果的害虫作斗争。 这最终降低了新斯科舍省和加拿大东部其他地区蓝莓生产商的产量和利润。为了改善对当前和新出现的害虫的管理，野生蓝莓生产商渴望减少对广谱化学杀虫剂的依赖，同时满足加拿大消费者对环境管理的需求，并扩大国际市场。 因此，生产者需要利用对害虫种类有效、对有益的非目标生物危害低的新技术，同时在其田地周围实施生境管理技术，促进有益昆虫的群落，这将有助于作物授粉和害虫抑制。* 该项目涉及新斯科舍省野生蓝莓生产者协会和达尔豪西大学之间的伙伴关系。 该项目将通过以下方式直接应对野生蓝莓中的昆虫管理挑战：（1）确定新生物农药和风险较低的产品对蓝莓害虫的潜力;（2）监测可能威胁野生蓝莓生产的新入侵昆虫;（3）确定此类产品对蜜蜂和天敌的危害;（4）确定生物农药和风险较低的产品对蓝莓害虫的危害。以及（4）确定各种生境管理技术对提高蓝莓田周围天敌和野生传粉者群落的潜力。 * 这些活动将提高新斯科舍省野生蓝莓生产者协会以及该地区其他生产者的农业可持续性和产量。*

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.**********