Are the berries safe to eat if they have maggots?

Most people prefer to discard them. If you find a maggot, the fruit is likely compromised and will not taste good.

Can I prevent mummy berry with a spray?

Yes, a fungicide labeled for mummy berry, applied from bud break through bloom, can help. However, sanitation is the most effective way to stop it.

What is eating my highbush blueberry fruit? Causes and fixes

Check these first

Look for tiny holes in the fruit.
Check the ground for fallen shriveled berries.
Inspect the leaves for wilting or brown spots.

Likely causes

Blueberry Maggot
Most likely
How to tell: Fruit becomes soft and mushy before it is fully ripe. You might see tiny exit holes on the skin of the berry.
What to do: Hang yellow sticky traps in the bush to monitor and catch adults. If infestation is heavy, use an organic spinosad spray according to label directions.
Mummy Berry Fungus
Most likely
How to tell: Berries turn into hard, shriveled, black mummies instead of ripening. The leaves and shoots may also wilt and turn brown.
What to do: Remove and destroy all mummified berries from the ground and the bush. Do not compost them, as the fungus will survive to infect next year.

Pests on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your blueberry

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

When to worry

It is serious if you lose a large portion of your harvest. If you only see one or two affected berries, simply remove them immediately.

Stopping it coming back

Clean up all fallen fruit and debris under the bush every autumn. This breaks the life cycle of both pests and fungi.

Blueberry: pests? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your blueberry and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Are the berries safe to eat if they have maggots?: Most people prefer to discard them. If you find a maggot, the fruit is likely compromised and will not taste good.
Can I prevent mummy berry with a spray?: Yes, a fungicide labeled for mummy berry, applied from bud break through bloom, can help. However, sanitation is the most effective way to stop it.

Guides to these causes

Fruit Fly

What is eating my highbush blueberry fruit?

Check these first

Not sure what's wrong with your blueberry?