{"id":711,"date":"2010-06-02T13:55:25","date_gmt":"2010-06-02T17:55:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/?page_id=711"},"modified":"2025-09-09T13:37:59","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T17:37:59","slug":"203-blueberry-leaf-beetle","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/insect\/203-blueberry-leaf-beetle\/","title":{"rendered":"203-Blueberry Leaf Beetle (Pyrrhalta vaccinii (Fall))"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fact Sheet No. 203, UMaine Extension No. 2369<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Prepared by\u00a0Judith A. Collins, Assistant Scientist, and H. Y. Forsythe, Jr., Professor of Entomology, in cooperation with David Yarborough, Extension Blueberry Specialist, The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469. November 1995.<\/em><\/p>\n

Description<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The blueberry leaf beetle adults range in color from brownish-yellow to reddish-brown (Photo 1).\u00a0 The larvae are light greenish-gray and are about 1\/8-inch long when fully grown.\u00a0 The yellowish pupae are found at least one inch deep in the soil.<\/p>\n

Life Cycle<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Blueberry leaf beetles pass the winter as adults hidden in the debris at the base of blueberry plants.\u00a0 They leave their winter quarters in late April to begin to feed on expanding leaf buds and to mate.\u00a0 The largest numbers of beetles occur on the foliage between May and early June.\u00a0 Eggs are deposited in crevices at the base of plant stems from late May to late July.\u00a0 When the eggs hatch, the larvae eat the foliage of blueberry plants.\u00a0 The larvae pupate in the soil, and a new generation of adults becomes common in late July.\u00a0 They feed on the foliage well into the fall before seeking overwintering sites.<\/p>\n

\"leafbeetle\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Adult<\/a>
Photo 1: Adult<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Damage and Economic Importance<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Adults and larvae of the blueberry leaf beetle damage blueberry plants by eating the lower surface of the leaf, leaving a lacy network of fine veins; this is called “skeletonizing.”\u00a0 The upper surface later turns brown.\u00a0 Infestations are usually confined to isolated areas and abandoned or poorly managed fields.\u00a0 However, when the beetles are very abundant for two or three successive seasons, they may kill blueberry plants over large areas.<\/p>\n

Pest Management<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For information regarding monitoring and control, contact the lowbush blueberry specialist, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, 1.800.897.0757 (toll-free in Maine) or 207.581.2923.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Information\u00a0in this publication is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of\u00a0products\u00a0or services mentioned. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is\u00a0criticism\u00a0of unnamed products or companies implied.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a9 1995<\/span><\/p>\n

Call 800.287.0274 (in Maine), or 207.581.3188, for information on publications and program offerings from University of Maine Cooperative Extension, or visit\u00a0<\/b>extension.umaine.edu<\/b><\/span><\/a>.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The University of Maine is an EEO\/AA employer, and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran\u2019s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fact Sheet No. 203, UMaine Extension No. 2369 Prepared by\u00a0Judith A. Collins, Assistant Scientist, and H. Y. Forsythe, Jr., Professor of Entomology, in cooperation with David Yarborough, Extension Blueberry Specialist, The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469. November 1995. Description The blueberry leaf beetle adults range in color from brownish-yellow to reddish-brown (Photo 1).\u00a0 The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":18838,"menu_order":12,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-711","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n203-Blueberry Leaf Beetle (Pyrrhalta vaccinii (Fall)) - Cooperative Extension: Maine Wild Blueberries - University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/blueberries\/resources\/insect\/203-blueberry-leaf-beetle\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"203-Blueberry Leaf Beetle (Pyrrhalta vaccinii (Fall)) - Cooperative Extension: Maine Wild Blueberries - University of Maine Cooperative Extension\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Fact Sheet No. 203, UMaine Extension No. 2369 Prepared by\u00a0Judith A. 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