Agricultural officials are launching an intense trapping effort in Napa Country to combat the European Grapevine Moth which decimated a vineyard last year. The moth, native to Southern Italy, is being discussed by agriculture officials from Napa, San Diego and Riverside counties. There is a fear in Napa County that more vineyards will fall prey to the moth this year if drastic measures aren't carried out. In addition to vineyards, the moths also feed on olives, cherries, persimmons, pomegranates, currants and other fruits. This could pose an even larger problem for the wine country region due to the large amount of fruit production that takes place in the area.
Although many vineyards are concerned about the infestation of the Grapevine Moth, most operations deal with this sort of threat on a yearly basis. Most Agriculture officials try to prevent infestation by collecting samples of pests throughout the state to study population and regional spreading. This years preventive maintenance in Napa Country will hopefully provide information regarding appropriate eradication methods for the future.
