Pest Monitoring and Scouting in grapes. Introduction An ecological approach to managing pests in agricultural crops is known as Integrated Pest Management.

Pest Monitoring and Scouting Pest Monitoring and Scouting in grapesin grapes

IntroductionIntroduction An ecological approach to managing pests in An ecological approach to managing pests in

agricultural crops is known as Integrated Pest agricultural crops is known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM).Management (IPM).

IPM involves compiling detailed and timely IPM involves compiling detailed and timely information about a crop and its pests to ensure information about a crop and its pests to ensure that pest management decisions are economically, that pest management decisions are economically, environmentally, and socially sound.environmentally, and socially sound.

IPM requires a more tolerant approach to pest IPM requires a more tolerant approach to pest control than traditional insecticide-based programs.control than traditional insecticide-based programs.

Timely monitoring provides accurate Timely monitoring provides accurate

information that allows the correct controlinformation that allows the correct control

decisions to be taken.decisions to be taken.

Importance of Monitoring in grapesImportance of Monitoring in grapes

At the farm level, first activity is gathering information about the At the farm level, first activity is gathering information about the environment, pest, potential biological control agents and the environment, pest, potential biological control agents and the crop. crop.

This activity is termed scouting, or monitoring, and is performed This activity is termed scouting, or monitoring, and is performed frequently during the growing season to acquire periodic frequently during the growing season to acquire periodic information about the vineyard pest status so that timely information about the vineyard pest status so that timely decisions can be made and actions can be taken if necessary.decisions can be made and actions can be taken if necessary.

Monitoring is the most fundamental, yet the most often neglected Monitoring is the most fundamental, yet the most often neglected activity in an IPM program.activity in an IPM program.

Both the need for control and the effectiveness of any action Both the need for control and the effectiveness of any action taken are determined by monitoring pest and natural enemy taken are determined by monitoring pest and natural enemy populations.populations.

Why scout vineyards?Why scout vineyards?• • Provides early detection of pestsProvides early detection of pests

• • Reduce risk of pest outbreaksReduce risk of pest outbreaks

• • Information on other vineyard issuesInformation on other vineyard issues

• • Improve timing of spraysImprove timing of sprays

• • Identify hot-spotsIdentify hot-spots

Best approaches to scouting: Best approaches to scouting: Regular weekly scoutingRegular weekly scouting Sample multiple vines on border and interiorSample multiple vines on border and interior

e.g. 100 vines per vineyard (100 across 4 rows)e.g. 100 vines per vineyard (100 across 4 rows) Return to same vineyards each weekReturn to same vineyards each week Randomize the position of the samplesRandomize the position of the samples Keep clear records of what you findKeep clear records of what you find

Monitor the vineyards- “ Monitor the vineyards- “ Scouting”Scouting”

Which of the expected pests are in your field?Which of the expected pests are in your field?

Know both “what” and “how many” by properly sampling Know both “what” and “how many” by properly sampling the field?the field?

Compare the sample count of pests to “ economic Compare the sample count of pests to “ economic threshold” or “action threshold” to determine if action is threshold” or “action threshold” to determine if action is necessary.necessary.

An economic threshold is the Pest population level or extent of crop damage at which the value of the crop destroyed exceeds the cost of controlling the pest.

Establish Monitoring sites for Establish Monitoring sites for pest pest

Place monitoring stations near woodlots and inside Place monitoring stations near woodlots and inside vineyards (2 in each position)vineyards (2 in each position)

Check at weekly intervals during growing season. Check at weekly intervals during growing season.

Key Insect and diseases Pests to Key Insect and diseases Pests to monitor for…monitor for…

1.1. Stem borerStem borer

2.2. Stem girdlerStem girdler

3.3. ThripsThrips

4.4. Flea beetleFlea beetle

5.5. MealybugsMealybugs

6.6. HelicoverpaHelicoverpa

7.7. SpodopteraSpodoptera

8.8. MitesMites

Downey mildewDowney mildew

Powdery mildewPowdery mildew

AnthracnoseAnthracnose

Black rotBlack rot

Monitor/ scout vine orchard

Other trap data

Pheromone trap data

Pest type and

number

Weather data

Basic IPM- Monitoring / Scouting

Select management

option

1. Pesticide selection & time of spray

2. Biological control3. Mechanical control4. Cultural practices.,

etc.

Monitoring toolsMonitoring tools1. Pheromone traps: 1. Pheromone traps:

For moths (i.e For moths (i.e Helicoverpa, SpodopteraHelicoverpa, Spodoptera)) Artificial lures have been developed based on the specific sex Artificial lures have been developed based on the specific sex

pheromone that the female of each species uses to lure males for pheromone that the female of each species uses to lure males for mating.mating.

Pheromone traps using these lures and a sticky coating are a quick Pheromone traps using these lures and a sticky coating are a quick and convenient way to monitor the populations of such pests. and convenient way to monitor the populations of such pests.

Traps are placed in the vineyard before the beginning Traps are placed in the vineyard before the beginning

of moth emergence.of moth emergence.

2. Light trap2. Light trap Light traps make use of a light source to attract night-flying insects. Light traps make use of a light source to attract night-flying insects.

They are especially useful to monitor certain species of moths.They are especially useful to monitor certain species of moths.

3. Yellow sticky trap3. Yellow sticky trap Yellow sticky traps are efficient to monitor population densities of Yellow sticky traps are efficient to monitor population densities of

day-flying insects that respond to the yellow color.day-flying insects that respond to the yellow color.

Disease CalendarDisease CalendarDisease Bud

breakPre-bloom

Bloom 1ST Post bloom

Cluster closing

Veraision

Harvest Leaf drop

Black rot ++ ++++ ++++ ++++ +++ + 0 0

Powdery mildew

++ +++ +++ +++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++

Downey mildew

++ +++ +++ +++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++

Anthracnose

+++++ ++ ++ ++ + + + +

+, ++, +++ denotes fungal activity+++++ denotes appropriate time to spray

Source:www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

Some examples….Some examples….

Grape flea beetle Grape flea beetle is easily is easily spotted on vines and buds on spotted on vines and buds on sunny days. Scouting should sunny days. Scouting should be done around the edges of be done around the edges of vineyard first, where it enters vineyard first, where it enters from nearby woodlots.from nearby woodlots.

Threshold: 4% bud Threshold: 4% bud damage/sq. m damage/sq. m

Grape leafhopper: • Overwinters near vineyards and

moves to grapes in late May-June.

• Sampling must be done on underside of leaves

Let’s sum upLet’s sum up• Monitoring and Scouting for insect pests is an important Monitoring and Scouting for insect pests is an important

strategy of an IPM strategy of an IPM • Regular scouting is necessary to detect early infestations Regular scouting is necessary to detect early infestations

and also monitor the efficacy of control measures. and also monitor the efficacy of control measures. • A crop scouting program includes both visual inspection A crop scouting program includes both visual inspection

and through tools like traps.and through tools like traps.• Scouting should be done once a week. Scouting should be done once a week. • This information forms a sound basis for decision making- This information forms a sound basis for decision making-

the absence of this information usually leads to overuse of the absence of this information usually leads to overuse of pesticides. pesticides.