Page 51 - Grapevine JanFeb 2022

Around The Vineyard

ination of clusters with sooty mold, degrading the
value of the crop.”

Vine mealybug is the primary insect concern
because it is an invasive species that also happens
to be the most aggressive of the mealybug species
that attack grapes. It has more generations, pro-
duces more honeydew, and is the only mealybug
that spreads to all plant parts, from roots to upper
canopy leaves. As an invasive species, there are
fewer natural checks and balances in place to help
mitigate populations.

“While there are a few chemical management
options available, the more these are used, the
higher the likelihood that insecticide resistance
will develop,” said Symmes. “The good news is
that there are Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
options for VMB management that do not pose a
risk of resistance development, including phero-
mone mating disruption products, ant control, and
natural enemies such as parasitoids and predators.”

Suterra has a long history of innovation. Along
with helping growers by using unique phero-
mone-based products to protect crops with zero
harmful residues, Suterra was the first company to
manufacture products that lower the population of
the vine mealybugs by disrupting their mating hab-
its. In addition, their CheckMate® products reduce
damage and extend the lifespan of conventional
tools by helping fight insecticide resistance and
contribute to maximizing the efficacy of insecticide
inputs where needed.

“Mating disruption products have now been
shown for decades to be a reliable Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) technique,” said Symmes. “The
wine and grape growing industry is incredibly pro-
gressive and sustainably-minded. As a result, we
are seeing more regions establish and take steps
to collaborate on programs for area-wide mating
disruption, with its use increasing dramatically year
over year as growers realize the benefits and return
on investment.”

Suterra’s CheckMate® VMB-F and CheckMate®
VMB-XL are synthetic replicas of the vine mealybug
sexual reproduction pheromone. Both CheckMate®

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