Project Number
US ENT 17-A3
Project title
The ecology of Lobesia vanillana in wine grape vineyards, with emphasis on management options.
Project leader
Addison, P
Institution
Stellenbosch University. Department of Conservation, Ecology and Entomology
Team members
Addison, P
Addison, M
Pringle, K L
Project description
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. 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 and to address the following questions: 1. What are the best trapping systems to use for monitoring this pest 2. What is its current distribution in vineyards and what are its hosts, and 3. What management practice could be applied to control its populations?
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