title: Field type, trap type and field-edge characteristics affect Rhagoletis mendax captures in lowbush blueberries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blueberry maggot, Rhagoletis mendax Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae), is the most important pest of blueberries in eastern North America. Insecticide use in fruit-bearing lowbush blueberry fields could be reduced with management strategies focused on vegetative fields. Fly distribution and fruit infestation levels were assessed where fruit-bearing and vegetative fields adjoin and along forested edges of vegetative fields.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Along adjoining edges, immature female flies were captured in fruiting fields and mature females in vegetative fields throughout the season. Male fly captures and fruit infestation levels were greater at 5 m than at 30 m from the edge. Along forested edges, fly captures were best predicted by densities of ripe lowbush blueberries and large coniferous trees. Maggot infestation level in lowbush blueberries was best predicted by blueberry density and small deciduous trees. Bunchberry, Cornus canadensis L., was the only non-crop host in which blueberry maggot was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have shown that relatively high numbers of flies occur in vegetative fields and at edges of fruiting fields. Ripe blueberries and certain vegetation in forested edges affect fly distribution and probably maintain populations. These results may help to predict where controls for blueberry maggot should be targeted and suggest that management strategies focused on vegetative fields and field edges may be worthwhile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada; School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Justin M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Renkema
authors.forename: G Christopher
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Cutler
authors.forename: Sonia O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Gaul
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D029798:Blueberry Plants / Q000469:parasitology*; D029768:Cornus / Q000469:parasitology; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D065928:Forests; D005638:Fruit / Q000469:parasitology; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009674:Nova Scotia; D033621:Tephritidae / Q000502:physiology*; D064028:Tracheophyta
keywords: Rhagoletis mendax; Vaccinium angustifolium; alternative host plants; edge-based management; wild blueberries