Blueberry Gall Midge
Overview
Blueberry gall midge is a pest of blueberry shoot tips and flower buds.
Larval feeding can damage young growing points and affect crop development.
Main host crop
Symptoms
Typical symptoms include:
- damaged shoot tips
- distorted new growth
- aborted buds
- poor shoot development
- reduced fruiting sites
Risk conditions
| Condition | Risk |
|---|---|
| Soft new growth | High |
| Warm spring periods | Moderate–High |
| Dense bushes | Moderate |
| Poor shoot monitoring | High |
Monitoring
Inspect:
- shoot tips
- flower buds
- distorted young growth
- developing laterals
IPM approach
Useful strategies:
- early shoot inspections
- pruning for airflow
- removal of damaged tips where practical
- monitoring repeated hotspots
Commonly affected crops
Related BioWiki pages
Key message
Blueberry gall midge is easiest to detect by careful inspection of young shoot tips and flower buds.