The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) have recently alerted vineyard operators to be on the lookout for an invasive species of bug that thrives on wine grapes. The resulting effect could mean huge consequences for the wine industry in California.

In March, the Truckee Agricultural Inspection Station found lanternfly eggs on a sculpture that was headed for Sonoma County, one of the country’s largest wine growing regions.

The sculpture was promptly sent back to Nevada where it was pressure washed with disinfectant and more egg masses were found. It was then able to continue on where it was inspected again in Sonoma County.

Lanternflies have been spotted around the East Coast for almost a decade now where authorities advise to kill on sight.

“The spotted lanternfly is a pest that is deadly to grape vines. A vineyard in Pennsylvania recently reported 90% crop loss due to the spotted lanternfly…Entomologists believe that the spotted lanternfly will eventually spread to California likely in the form of egg masses on rail cars or other forms of goods movement,” says the CAWG website.

They advise to keep a sharp lookout for these pests that are native to China, but they can be hard to spot due to their camouflage appearance. Their egg masses can also be easily missed because they look like mud.

On June 10, CAWG released a public service announcement to “raise awareness of how to identify a spotted lanternfly and the immediate action to take if discovered,” said Natalie Collins, President of the California Association of Winegrape Growers.

Peak season for the lantern flies is in late summer when they do have the ability to fly, but not very far. When idle, adult lantern flies are a dull tannish gray color, but reveal brighter red, black, and white colors when flying. 

Source - https://www.powder.com