Vineyard Pests
January 30th, 2008 Posted in Vineyard Pests, ViticultureThere are several different pests that can affect grape growing, and increase the cost of production. The most important of these is Phylloxera, which I’ll discuss in a separate post. In addition there are the following threats:
- Grape Moths: These are caterpilars that attack the buds in springtime and the grapes when they grow. These pests can be avoided by spraying insecticides.
- Red and yellow spider mites: These appear mostly in vineyards with hot dry weather. They flourish because insecticides have killed off their natural predators. Mites eat the leaves of the vine, taking away from growth. There are special sprays used to get rid of them, or in organic vineyards, natural predators are used.
- Nematodes: These are microscopic worms that attack rootstock. Once they infest a vine, they’re almost impossible to get rid of, so the best way to deal with them is to take preventative measures, including using resistant rootstock and sanitizing the soil before planting.
- Birds and animals: Many techniques are used to scare away birds, like installing speakers that play loud noises. The most effective method is to lay protective nets over the vines, but that is very expensive. Larger animals like deer will also try to eat grapes, which may require protective fencing.
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