Journal of Economic Entomology (2018) 111, 1313-1317

Charles Vincent, Pierre Lemoyne and Jean Lafond (2018)
Management of blueberry maggot with high temperatures
Journal of Economic Entomology 111 (3), 1313-1317
Abstract: High temperatures were investigated to manage blueberry maggot (Rhagoletis mendax Curran; Diptera: Tephritidae) in field and postharvest situations. To estimate lethal combinations of high temperatures/duration of exposure, blueberry maggot pupae were immersed in water at various temperatures during either 1 or 30 s in the laboratory. Treatments such as 70°C (1 s) or 55°C (30 s) caused 100% mortality of blueberry maggot pupae. In a lowbush blueberry field, soil temperatures at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 cm depth were measured with thermocouples following the passage of a flamethrower attached to a tractor in the fall. While the temperatures reached up to ca. 80°C for ca. 1 s at the soil surface, they were <10°C at depths of 3, 4, and 5 cm. In field situations, the energy required to kill all pupae would be expensive to deliver with a flamethrower and this would also cause environmental concerns. An example of application concerning the use of high temperatures in a postharvest situation is discussed, notably immersion of reusable containers in hot water in compliance with Canadian Food Inspection Agency Directive D-02-04 (2015) to prevent dissemination of R. mendax in uninfested areas.
(The abstract has been supplied by the author or ISPI and is excluded from the Creative Commons licence.)
(original language: English)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Charles Vincent

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general
quarantine treatments/regulations/aspects

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Rhagoletis mendax	Blueberry/cranberry (Vaccinium)	Canada (east)