I attended the CDFA joint meeting of the Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board and Pierce’s Disease Advisory Task Force in late October 2009. According to the CDFA , “EGVM was found in Napa County late in the season, and efforts are gearing up for an extensive survey when the weather warms up and the moths become active again.”

A number of counties in California are now trapping for this pest using pheromone traps. It is in our best interest that the CDFA trappers are granted access to vineyards to monitor this pest. According to the  Santa Rosa Press Democrat , “The moth, Lobesia botrana, can feed on the flower or the fruit of the grapevine. If the pest attacks mature grape clusters, the berries can become further damaged through infection of botrytis, also known as bunch rot.”

Click here for more information on this new pest threat to grapes