October 21, 2016

<p>European grapevine moths will feed on small berry clusters and blooms, destroying the yield of the crop.</p>
Napa Valley's prized wine grape region became "ground-zero" for the invasive European grapevine moth (EGVM) in late 2009 after a grower discovered bunch rot across his entire 60-acre block of Chardonnay grapes.
The pest lays its eggs on grape vines, feeding first on the tiny flowering grapes, then later on the ripening fruit. This causes Botrytis in the grapes.
A coordinated effort between growers, university researchers, the local agricultural department, the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture fought back against the EGVM to the point officials may be able to declare eradication of the invasive pest as harvest season gets under way in the growing region.
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