Scientists at North Carolina State University have identified a native longhorn beetle whose larvae chew blueberry roots for years before growers notice problems. This marks the first confirmed case of Prionus imbricornis damaging blueberries in North Carolina.
The larvae stay underground three to five years. They tunnel through roots while bushes keep making fruit. Three farms have confirmed infestations, totaling about 1,200 acres.
“The plant doesn’t show many distinctive symptoms until the larvae have completely decimated their roots,” said Lorena Lopez, an assistant extension professor in NC State’s Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, according to WRAL. “Most of the canopy continues to produce fruit, so growers may mistake the damage for disease or nutrient deficiencies.”…