Oct 21, 2009

European Grapevine Moth Detected in Napa County

A single European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana, has been detected in the Oakville region of Napa County, along with larvae, Napa County Agricultural Commissioner Dave Whitmer announced Oct. 12.

The moth has been intercepted coming into the United States many times, but this is the first time it was found away from a port of entry or an imported fruit.

The European grapevine moth, a close relative of the grape berry moth found in the eastern United States, is a significant pest of grapes in Europe, the Mediterranean, southern Russia, Japan, the Middle East, Near East and northern and western Africa. It also feeds on other crops.

The Napa County Department of Agriculture is working with USDA and the California Department of Food and Agriculture to trap and survey in the area in an attempt to detect additional European grapevine moths. Regulatory actions are under review. Napa County’s wine grape crop was valued at $472 million in 2007.

“This is an invasive moth, something that doesn’t belong in Napa County or anywhere in this country,”Whitmer said. “We’re doing all we can, working with our state and federal partners, to track this pest and determine our response as quickly as possible.”

Studies show that larvae feed primarily on the flowers and fruit of the grape, but that they can also feed on a number of other hosts and, if established in the United States, would be widely adapted, especially in the east.