Grape Berry Moth
Paralobesia viteana
moderate risk
insect
Overview
Primary pest of grapes in eastern North America. Larvae infest grape berries causing rot and economic loss.
Adults 6-7mm, gray-brown with tan patches on wings. Larvae small (9mm), cream to greenish. Egg flat transparent disk.
Prevention Strategies
- •Pheromone trap monitoring for flight timing
- •Remove leaf debris and old bark (overwintering sites)
- •Grape berry moth is the primary reason many vineyards use pesticides
Control Methods
- •Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) timed to hatch
- •Mating disruption pheromone dispensers (very effective in vineyards)
- •Spinosad insecticide
- •Kaolin clay barrier
- •Pyrethroid insecticides
Interesting Facts
- •Mating disruption is environmentally ideal and highly effective for vineyards
- •Climate change is shifting flight timing requiring updated spray timing models
- •Wild grape serves as natural reservoir population
- •A single infested berry can invite enough Botrytis rot to spoil an entire bunch