Blueberry aphid

The blueberry aphid (Illinoia pepperi) is the vector of blueberry shoestring virus which can cause bush decline and significant yield reductions. It is also a potential vector of blueberry scorch virus that was detected in Michigan in the past few years. Because of the ability of aphids to serve as vectors of plant disease, they should be controlled to minimize virus spread in infected fields and in susceptible fields near to virus-infected fields.