Blueberry Casebeetle

species: neochlamisus cribripennis
common names: blueberry casebeetle
hosts:
notes:

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Insect Identification Sheet No. 8 Blueberry Casebeetle Neochlamisus cribripennis (Leconte) The blueberry casebeetle occurs wherever the native lowbush blueberry grows in Eastern Canada and northeastern United States. It feeds exclusively on the blueberry. In most areas it is kept under control by natural factors, but periodically it is present in very large numbers and nearly all of the crop is lost.

Injury:

The first evidence of an infestation occurs in late June or early July when young larvae begin feeding on the leaves. Some plants may only show a few leaves partly chewed or missing but others may be completely stripped of foliage. Later in the season, in September and October, the adults cause further damage by feeding on the stems. The damage is most extensive on the bottom 5cm (2 in.) where the bark has been chewed off.

Life History:

The blueberry casebeetle spends the winter as an adult in the organic litter of blueberry fields, and emerges in late April or May. Egg laying starts in May and reaches a peak in mid-June. The pinkish-colored eggs are laid singly, attached to the stem of the plant (or leaf) by a short stalk. Immediately after being deposited the adult covers each egg with a dark-brown or blackish bell-shaped case of excreta. After an incubation period of 10 to 14 days, the larva hatches and chews a hole through the end of the case, which is broken free from the stalk and continues to serve as a case for the larva. The larva or grub feeds with only the head and legs exposed, and enlarges the size of the case as
it grows by using its own excreta. After 3 to 4 weeks, the larva reaches full growth and pupates within the case, which is attached to a blueberry stem. At this time, it resembles the burned end of a wooden match stick. The adult beetle emerges from the case in late July or August and is active until late fall when it moves into the litter layer to hibernate.

Pest Management:

For information on the control of this insect consult your provincial Department of Agriculture.