NC State Identifies Prionus imbricornis in 90% of 5,000 Trapped Beetles on Blueberry Farms
Updated
Updated · Gizmodo · Jun 3
NC State Identifies Prionus imbricornis in 90% of 5,000 Trapped Beetles on Blueberry Farms
2 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · Jun 3
Summary
Prionus imbricornis was confirmed as the beetle attacking North Carolina blueberry farms, marking the state's first verified sighting of the species after years of unexplained bush deaths.
More than 5,000 beetles trapped at six farms were analyzed, and nearly 90% were P. imbricornis; larvae collected at two farms matched those adults with 98% to 99% genetic accuracy.
The finding matters because Prionus larvae feed underground on roots for years and different species require different control strategies, making precise identification critical for treatment timing and insecticide choice.
North Carolina produces about 54 million pounds of blueberries annually, but researchers said there is still no easy fix and are now testing which insecticides and intervention windows work best.