Abstract
Abstract The ecology and control for the little-understood, blueberry bud-infesting gall midge Dasineura oxycoccana (Johnson) was studied to help reduce an estimated 20–80% blueberry crop loss due to this insect in the southern United States. Principal natural enemies were eulophid wasps, 85% of which were Aprostocetus (Perkins). Overall parasitism rate was 7% in the field, at times peaking around 34%. A 75% decline in the abundance of larval D. oxycoccana coincided with parasitoid activity between April to September. Larval Toxomerus geminatus (Say) Metz (Syrphidae) were early-season predators of immature D. oxycoccana. Prey handling took 3–10 min, with each predator eating approximately seven gall midge larvae in a 16-h period. Prebloom applications of malathion would be effective larvicides against D. oxycoccana, inducing 94% mortality in 24 h. A microbial-based alternative to malathion, spinosad, induced average mortality of 46% in 24 h. Spinosad was as effective as phosmet (50% mortality in 24 h) for...
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