For processing and wholesale markets, the presence of a single maggot will cause rejection of an entire crop of fruit. This may be due at least in part to the fact that most blueberry growers apply few if any pesticides, the one exception being a single insecticide for control of blueberry maggot if trap captures are made. Overwintering larvae pupate and hatch into egg laying moths that are active nights after fruit set. Eggs are deposited on blueberry fruits and developing larvae burrow into fruits causing severe damage. Botrytis blight caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea can be a serious problem, especially in years when the bloom period is wet.
Infection occurs primarily on flowers.
The use of enclosure netting is quite expensive. Voles find the mulched environment around blueberry plants a favored habitat - food and cover are conveniently close. Management of voles in the blueberry planting requires regular, close mowing of grass aisles and the regular use of herbicides to reduce cover near bushes. Poisoned baits available for vole control in orchards are not registered for use on blueberry. References Pritts, Marvin and James Hancock, editors.