New pests threaten Washington grapes

摘要

Brawn marmorated stinkbug could be the worst. While exotic and invasive pests threaten grape industries in other West Coast states, Washington's grape industry has thus far been relatively unscathed. Vine mealybug has not yet been detected in Washington vineyards, and spotted wing drosophila larvae do not appear to be able to develop on Washington's juice or wine grapes, says Washington State University's Dr. Doug Walsh. However, the big unknown to grapes is the brown marmorated stinkbug. Last year was the second that university entomologists followed infestations of spotted wing drosophila in Washington State. It was first detected in the United States in 2008 in California. Since then, the small fruit fly has been found along the West Coast and throughout the United States. Literature reports an extensive host range for spotted wing drosophila, including tree fruit, berries, and grapes. A national research effort is under way to gain knowledge about the fruit fly, crop damage, monitoring protocols, and management options.