South Africa Wine Research Projects

2. VITICULTURE RESEARCH PROJECT IN PROGRESS

THE ECOLOGY OF LOBESIA VANILLANA IN WINE GRAPE VINEYARDS, WITH EMPHASIS ON MANAGEMENT OPTIONS

US ENT 17-A3 Prof Pia Addison, Department Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University Start date: 2016

AIM AND INDUSTRY RELEVANCE: Lobesia vanillana is a pest species that was recently confirmed to attack wine grapes in the Western Cape. Grapes have not been listed as a host for this pest, therefore we know nothing of its ecology in vineyards. Preliminary observations have indicated that this could be a severe, direct pest that appears to be expanding its host and geographic range. The project aims to address the following questions: 1) What are the most efficient trapping systems to use for monitoring Lobesia , 2) what chemical and biological management practices could be applied to control its populations and, 3) what is the basic life cycle and ecology of L.vanillana in South African vineyards. Apart from taxonomic literature and one host list, excluding samples from the Western Cape, no information is available for L. vanillana . The aim of this study is therefore to obtain data on basic ecology and possible management, with focus on biological control, to develop an initial management strategy.

SOUTH AFRICA WINE RESEARCH 2024

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