As part of a three-state, 4 year comparison of pest management programs that employ either conventional or reduced-risk insecticides, we are measuring the response of non-target invertebrates to reduced levels of toxicity in the highbush blueberry agroecosystem. At six farms, five to ten acre paired blueberry fields are managed under either conventional or reduced-risk programs. In our initial year, we surveyed natural enemies, specifically the assemblage of ground predators (carabids, staphylinids, spiders, etc.) in fields managed under the two programs. In addition, the effect of different management programs on natural enemies and pest population growth were measured. Honey bee and indigenous pollinators that occur at our research sites were surveyed. Initial survey results and differences between programs will be reported.
Keywords: reduced-risk, nontarget effects
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