World’s top bug sleuths in Calif. to search Napa vineyards for ways to fight grape-eating moth
By Tracie Cone, APThursday, April 15, 2010
World’s top bug sleuths team to fight Napa moth
FRESNO, Calif. — European entomologists are joining colleagues from across the United States to address a problem growing on Napa Valley grapevines: a hungry moth that threatens to destroy some of the world’s most valuable fruit.
Scientists from Italy, France, Germany and Chile who have experience fighting the European grapevine moth are part of a Department of Agriculture task force in Napa this week. The group is working on a plan to contain and eradicate the invasive pest.
The moth has forced a quarantine across Napa County and state ag officials are working up a quarantine in parts of neighboring Sonoma County since the moth was discovered there last week.
Control options include sprays, predator bugs and pheromone traps that upset mating cycles.
