1: Reviewer’s Choice Second runner-up for EE: Effect of corolla slitting and nectar robbery by the eastern carpenter bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on fruit quality of Vaccinium corymbosum L. (Ericales: Ericaceae)

The effects of corolla slitting and nectar robbery by Xylocopa virginica on fruit quality of cultivated highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) were evaluated in 2017 and 2018 using 14 cultivars in a 0.15 ha experiment station planting. The average percentage of slit blueberry flowers was 35% (range 16 – 67% ‘Earliblue’ and ‘Lateblue’ respectively) in 2017 and 39% (range 20 – 62% ‘Bluecrop’ and ‘Collins’ respectively) in 2018. Flower morphology, plant height, season, and weather variables were analyzed to determine correlations with slitting frequency. In 2017, fruit weight and sugar content among six cultivars was not significantly different between slit and non-slit flowers. Similarly, in 2018 most cultivars showed no differences except ‘Bluehaven’ and ‘Collins’ fruit that resulted from slit corollas had a greater average mass than fruit resulting from non-slit corollas. ‘Collins’ fruit from slit flowers had a lower percentage of soluble solids at maturity in 2018. Pollination by other bees and insects is adequate to overcome any negative effects of corolla slitting and nectar robbery by X. virginica under our growing conditions and pollinator community.