Researchers Trace North Carolina’s Blueberry Troubles to a Longhorn Beetle

North Carolina State University researchers confirmed Prionus imbricornis as the beetle driving blueberry losses in North Carolina—the first verified NC sighting—with larvae that feed on roots. Traps across six farms captured over 5,000 beetles and genetic sequencing linked the larvae to the adults. The findings, published in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management, should improve pest identification and help guide future control efforts, though effective treatments and timing remain under study as North Carolina remains a major blueberry producer.