Revolutionizing Vine Mealybug Control with Celada VMB

Revolutionize Vine Mealybug Mating Disruption with Celada^TM VMB

Product development at Suterra is a time intensive endeavor that requires a sustained effort from all departments within the organization. What makes us leaders in the mating disruption industry is that we can engineer platforms with the most reliable pheromone release rate, produce high quality pheromone active ingredient for a variety of insect species in house, and field test products against a spectrum of environmental conditions worldwide to guarantee damage reduction.

The process of bringing a new product to market, while lengthy and multi-pronged, is necessary to ensure that growers are receiving an Integrated Pest Management tool that performs at the highest level. Earlier this year, we released our newest dispenser, Celada^TM VMB 180. As we’ve alluded to, it is the culmination of years of dedicated product development and has already reduced vine mealybug populations for growers across the globe.

We are thrilled to share more about Celada ^TM VMB’s distinctive features and long-lasting field performance.

Demand for a Supportive VMB Tool

Since vine mealybug’s appearance as an invasive species in California, we have seen firsthand the damage that it can cause in wine, table, and raisin grapes. We are also aware of the potential for vine mealybug to vector economically harmful Grapevine Leafroll associated Viruses. From our conversations with growers and viticulturalists, we recognized early on the need for an Integrated Pest Management tactic capable of reducing populations of vine mealybug to mitigate direct damage to grapes but also decrease the amount of virus vectors in vineyards.

That’s why in 2010 Suterra was the first mating disruption manufacturer to register a product for this non-lepidopteran species (an incredible feat, as the pheromone composition of mealybug species are more complex than straight chain lepidopterans like navel orangeworm). That product was our CheckMate VMB-XL dispenser, which was commercially available from 2011-2023, and enthusiastically adopted on multiple continents.

Innovative New Design of Celada^TM VMB

Celada^TM VMB is the result of a decade plus of vine mealybug mating disruption experience and grower feedback. We’ve conducted everything from early-stage development all the way to large scale field trials.

Data has consistently demonstrated that in California, and globally, it has outperformed our Checkmate VMB-XL dispenser. Our Celada VMB improved upon our already effective CheckMate VMB-XL dispenser; its unique design and release properties, coupled with a full year of longevity differentiates it from its predecessor.

This novel dispenser design has quite a few key feature improvements, all made possible by the chemists, material science engineers, and entomologists at Suterra. All teams within our organization have collaborated to create a cutting edge VMB vapor release dispenser with the grower in mind.

Celada^TM VMB 180 dispensers utilize the same high-quality pheromone active ingredient as the Checkmate® VMB-XL dispensers but in comparison have an enhanced release profile thanks to their proprietary resin blend composition. These updates in material and product design enabled us to make a change to the amount of active ingredient per dispenser (this is where the 180 in the product name comes from). 180 is a direct reference to the amount of milligrams of AI per dispenser. This increase in active ingredient, coupled with the material science engineering mentioned above, allowed for a reduction in label rate from 250/acre (Checkmate® VMB-XL) to 200/acre (Celada^TM VMB).

Another prominent piece of customer feedback we received over the years, especially in certain growing regions, was the desire for a more camouflaged mating disruption dispenser in vineyards. In the photo above, its apparent how visible the tag style of our Checkmate VMB-XL was due to its color and shape. In contrast, Celada^TM VMB 180 is a brown, burgundy color and sleek, slim design that blends in well with the vineyard environment throughout the season.

Retention capacity was also at the forefront of our minds when considering dispenser design improvements. Celada^TM VMB has an integrated hook, which helps to withstand crop production activities like mechanical harvesting or grapevine training and pruning. The data from all our trials has shown that when applied properly, Celada remains in place throughout the year.

The 235-day longevity of Checkmate® VMB-XL was unsurpassed in the vine mealybug mating disruption world until the launch of Celada^TM VMB. Celada has an improved field longevity profile and lasts a full 365 days in the field. It is the world’s longest lasting vine mealybug dispenser providing an entire year of coverage across the diverse growing environments throughout the world.

Label Specifications for Celada^TM VMB

Celada^TM VMB is a continuous release vapor dispenser, which means that it releases pheromone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is constantly saturating the vineyard. It has a zero-re-entry interval, zero pre-harvest interval, and is MRL exempt. As with any mating disruption product, Celada is compatible and complementary to all other IPM practices. Celada^TM VMB is applied at a rate of 200/acre and must be evenly distributed throughout the vineyard environment for max disruption benefit.

Deployment Guidelines for Celada^TM VMB

With a year-long longevity rating, only one deployment of Celada is necessary. However, to get the most out of the product growers and their workforce should follow Suterra’s official deployment guidelines.

The pheromone AI is contained in the ampule, or bubble zone, of the Celada dispenser. It will continuously emit through the resin on its own all year long, so no activation or manipulation of the dispenser is needed. Just like with any of our mating disruption dispensers, once you open the packaging, in this case the foil bag, the clock starts ticking on the product’s year long duration.

Celada dispensers come in strips of 14 units, each with its own integrated hook. The units are easy to separate as you walk through the field. If you pull from the bottom of the strip as shown in the photo, the hook will open, and the dispenser will easily separate from the card. The integrated hook makes its simple to secure to the cordon wire or base of cane. Make sure to place dispensers on the trellis wire or a sturdy cane, avoiding any part of the plant that could potentially be pruned off.

Deployment patterns are based on your individual vineyard’s row and spacing. We have a few of the more common spacings available on our deployment guide but if yours is not there, we are available to help create a custom hang pattern for your vineyard.

Vine Mealybug Integrated Pest Management Guidelines

As any grape farming operation knows, the most efficient way to mitigate vine mealybug damage and the spread of leafroll viruses is the layering of different IPM tactics. Mating disruption is the foundation of a strong Integrated Pest Management program, as it prevents large portions of the population from ever existing.

Contact a Suterra representative to discuss options for vine mealybug management in your vineyard.