Suterra Blog

Vine mealybug can cause permanent damage to vineyards if left unchecked, yet can be easily confused with several similar pests. Learn about mealybugs and how to distinguish vine mealybugs from other species in this article. 

Suterra’s products were recently used in a collaborative IPM demonstration funded by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE). Throughout the past two years, growers and researchers worked together to confirm the effectiveness of two of the most popular IPM strategies in combating vine mealybug in Lodi. Learn more about the project here in this article.

2020 was a difficult year for people of all vocations. Unfortunately, California wine growers faced unique stressors last year. They not only had to deal with the economic fallout of COVID-19 but also suffered from the most devastating wildfire damage in the state’s history.

As the 2021 wildfire season resurges in California, growers can learn from last year’s devastating season to prepare for the future. Fire and smoke damage can be particularly devastating for winegrowers, but there are ways that growers can ameliorate the threat.

At LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards, a combination of pesticides, community collaboration, and Suterra’s pheromone mating disruption products provide an integrated pest management approach.

Temperatures are heating up, and wine growers should keep an eye out for vine mealybug outbreaks in their vineyards.  Monitoring is a critical aspect for developing and executing an effective integrated pest management program.

Have you seen the latest video produced by the Lodi Winegrape Commission? It features various Vine Mealybug biocontrol measures in California vineyards. 

Growers typically deploy pheromone mating disruption for Planococcus ficus (Vine Mealybug, VMB ) in the spring. Depending on local practices and availability of labor, deployment can be done before the first flight (April), or just before the second flight (late May). Grower experience shows both strategies can be effective.

The Vine Mealybug (VMB) is a serious insect pest of grapes grown in California. There are only a few chemical management options available, and the more that these are used, the higher the likelihood is of insecticide resistance developing. Proper monitoring is a necessary step in assuring premium wine grape growers that their vines are clean and their management plans are effective.