What's eating my chandler blueberry?

Chandler Blueberry is a large-fruited highbush variety that birds, spotted wing drosophila, blueberry maggot fly, and aphids target most heavily. Birds are almost universally the biggest single cause of berry loss. Protect fruit with netting as soon as berries colour. Spotted wing drosophila is an increasing threat in both the US and UK.

Ripe and ripening berries pecked and eaten; entire clusters stripped; a flock can clear a bush in hours Net the entire plant with fine-mesh fruit cage netting (less than 25 mm) as soon as berries begin to turn blue. Remove netting when not fruiting to allow pollinator access. Reflective tape has limited long-term effect.

Adult females saw into ripe fruit to lay eggs; maggots develop inside otherwise perfect-looking berries, causing soft, collapsed spots; fruit becomes unusable Use red-sphere traps with apple cider vinegar bait to monitor. Pick fruit early and frequently — do not leave ripe berries on the bush. In severe areas use kaolin clay or approved spinosad spray timed at petal fall and fruit set.

Colonies on growing tips cause curled, yellowed leaves; can transmit blueberry shock virus in some regions Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil in early spring before populations build. Avoid over-fertilising with nitrogen. Encourage beneficial insects by keeping ground flora diverse.

White maggots tunnel through ripening fruit; infested berries dimple, collapse, and drop early; similar symptom to SWD but earlier in season Hang yellow sticky traps with ammonium acetate lure from late June. Use approved kaolin clay sprays as a deterrent. Harvest frequently and remove dropped fruit. Avoid placing traps near flowers to prevent pollinator bycatch.