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| News:
04/15/2010
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Second invader moth found in Kenwood
First, it was the Australian light brown apple moth. Now the European grapevine moth has shown up in Kenwood and may be a far more devastating pest than its Pacific cousin. A single adult European moth was trapped in a Kenwood vineyard on March 29. If – more likely when – a second adult is found, a quarantine will be put in place. Much of Sonoma Valley and parts of Healdsburg are already under state and federal quarantine strictures because of the light brown apple moth, LBAM for short. This tiny leaf roller insect attacks a wide variety of fruiting plants, and while it can cause considerable damage, it is nowhere near as potentially costly as the European grapevine month (EGVM), which specifically attacks grapes, the county’s – and certainly Kenwood’s – most lucrative agricultural product. The moths also have an affinity for olives, another major revenue crop for local farmers. The first step is to determine just how bad the infestation is. Right now, only a single adult has been found. Napa County, where the first EGVMs showed up last year in the Rutherford-Oakville area, lost one complete 10-acre crop last year. Ten employees of the Sonoma County Agricultural Commission are out placing traps in almost every vineyard within a three-mile radius of ground zero. These traps will be inspected two or three times a week. Three adult EGVMs have been found in Calistoga and others in Knight’s Valley, just north of there on Highway 128. Cathy Neville, Sonoma County’s agricultural commissioner, said it’s too soon to predict what will happen if the infestation spreads. She has been meeting with growers throughout the area to explain what’s happening and what the danger is. There will be a general meeting for all growers on April 16 at the Veteran’s Memorial Building where Neville, along with state and federal spokespeople, will provide a broader picture of the situation. The event runs from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. “What they are doing is looking at the biology of the pest to make recommendations on how to handle a quarantine,” Neville said. “We’re still working through that process.” A top concern for everybody is what will be done to manage these pests. “We will not, will not, will not, do aerial spraying,” Neville emphasized. While she won’t have final say over that, she was referring to a controversial spraying done in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties three years ago to combat the LBAM. Hundreds of people complained of reactions to the spray and the State of California’s agricultural division stopped doing it. “I was involved with Noreen Evans’ consensus group, and we all agreed it’s best not to do aerial spraying,” Neville said. “I think the state is with that.” Evans is the State Assembly member for the 7th District, which covers all of Napa and about a third each of Sonoma and Solano counties. “I think the issue is people don’t want to be sprayed in urban areas, as long as growers follow regulations for safety and health of their staff. There are a number of ways to attack both the light brown apple and European grapevine moths, both types known as leaf rollers. They are vulnerable to mating disruption through pheromone releases, natural predators like wasps, and sprays of chemicals, some organically approved and some not. Philip Coturri, president of Enterprise Vineyards and a vineyard manager for several organic growers in both Napa and Sonoma, is well aware of the threat. “We’re hoping for biological remediation with natural predators to deal with the threat,” Coturri said. “I don’t want to do wholesale spraying, but there are some … sprays that are organically approved. They last about seven days.” He is waiting for the arrival of pheromone laced twist ties in May that will disrupt the mating cycle. They will be laid out, 200 to the acre. “It seems to be a good biological control.” The European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana, is native to Southern Italy, but today is found throughout Europe, North and West Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Russia. The moths live off grapes and spurge laurel by preference, but will dine happily on blackberries, gooseberries, currants, olives, cherries, prunes, persimmons, kiwi, pomegranate, carnations, and other wild hosts. According to the University of California’s Agricultural and Natural Resources website, “In May and June, first-generation larvae web and feed on the flower clusters. Second-generation larvae (July-August) feed on green berries. Young larvae penetrate the berries and hollow them out, leaving the skin and seeds. Third-generation larvae (August-September) cause the greatest damage by webbing and feeding inside berries and within bunches, which become contaminated with frass (excrement). Additionally, feeding damage to berries after veraison (onset of ripening) exposes them to infection by Botrytis and other secondary fungi such as Aspergillus, Alternaria, Rhizopus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium. Secondary pests such as raisin moth (Cadra figulilella), fruit flies, and ants may also be attracted to damaged berries.” Anyone having questions about this new pest should call the Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner’s office at 565-2371, or visit their web site at www.sonoma-county.org/agcomm. Email: jay@kenwoodpress.com |
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