J ANU AR Y NEWS
EGVM Almost Gone, Not Forgotten N
Napa eradication program takes great strides against winegrape pest
apa, Calif.—Napa County and the rest of California is on the verge of eradicating the Europe- an grapevine moth (EGVM), the
invasive pest that first came to light in the North Coast in 2009 and spread rapidly the next year. Dave Whitmer, Napa Coun- ty agricultural commissioner, sent an up- date in December thanking the local wine and grape industry for cooperating with quarantine and control requirements that have significantly reduced EGVM popu- lations in the county and elsewhere. "Without your efforts, we would not
be at the threshold of eradicating this pest from Napa County and statewide," Whit- mer wrote. "However, while celebration of accomplishments to date is important, we must remain vigilant in the year to come and not give up before we have reached our goal: elimination of EGVM from Napa County and the state of California."
In 2011, Napa County deployed al-
most 5,000 EGVM rural and urban detec- tion traps and caught a total of only 111 moths—94 from the first flight, 16 from the second flight and one from the third flight. In 2010, similar methods captured more than 100,000 moths. State EGVM detec- tions were also down: In 2011, only 143 adult EGVM were detected statewide, a 99.9% reduction from the previous year. In addition to detection activities in
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Napa Valley grapegrowers' vigilance has resulted in the near-eradication of EGVM.
Napa County, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) conduct- ed treatments in urban areas where EGVM was detected in 2010. "The low numbers of detection and high compliance with quarantine requirements demonstrate the great work and coopera- tion," Whitmer said.
—Jane Firstenfeld
QSEE US AT UNIFIED, BOOTH #1020 Wines & Vines JAnUARY 2012 17
JACK KELLY CLARK
