No aerial spaying considered as moth moves into Valley

Two new quarantine areas covering 9,000 vineyard acres will be established after more European grapevine moths were found in Sonoma Valley.

Two of the moths were detected in east Sonoma, and another was found near Kenwood, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

“I’m concerned for the growers,” said Cathy Neville, Sonoma County’s agricultural commissioner. “The pest is very serious. This is a big deal.”

The new discoveries, coupled with finds earlier this month, mandate establishing the quarantine areas. The exact boundary lines have not yet been established. While the goal of eradication has been set, aerial spraying is not being considered as an option to kill the pest, Neville told The Sun.

The European grapevine moth causes severe fungal rot, and its larvae ruin ripening fruit. Last year approximately 10 acres of vineyards in Napa County – the first infestation in North America – had a 100 percent crop loss due to the insect burrowing into the fruit.

The quarantine does not prohibit the shipment of grapes from an affected area, but adds a compliance agreement which calls for careful inspections of fruit and equipment. Only loads certified clean of the pest are cleared for transport.

Experts say the movement of equipment between Sonoma and Napa counties increases the likelihood of transferring the pest and starting an infestation in Sonoma County. “If there’s on message to get out, it’s make sure the equipment is clean and sterilized before leaving an infected area,” Neville said.

Her office is contacting the affected growers, she said, and will hold mandatory outreach meetings to put growers on compliance agreements to ensure the movement of certified products, and to prevent the spread of moth.

Meanwhile state and federal agencies are formulating a strategy to find a pest never seen in the United States prior to last October, when it was detected in Oakville. As of April 19, 2010, there have been thousands of European grapevine moths trapped in Napa County, leading to a significant portion of the county being placed under quarantine.

“The issue is, it’s so new,” Neville said of the moth. Experts from other countries where the bug is established, including scientists from Europe and South America, met with state and federal agriculture officials recently to formulate a strategy to fight the moth in the U.S. “The goal is eradication,” Neville said, but stressed “there will be no aerial spraying.”

Organic alternatives include certain soil and vine treatments, and interrupting the moth’s mating process, which has proved successful abroad. “We’re looking at the smart way to handle this,” Neville said.

The trap density will be increased from 16 to 25 traps per square mile in the impending quarantine areas to detect any additional moth. Two moths found within three miles of each other within one lifecycle cause a quarantine to be established by state and federal agencies.