Chile defines strategy to control grapevine moth

The grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) was detected for the first time in Chile in the region of Linderos in the central part of the country. The plague, which originated in Europe, attacks vineyards, as its larvae feeds on the clusters, leading to decay and dehydration of the berries, reducing the yield.

Due to the serious damage inflicted by this insect, the Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) declared controlling the pest obligatory. Official control measures include surveillance to study the plague distribution in the country and to identify phytosanitary measures for spraying pesticides in areas where its presence is detected.

In these areas, quarantines or regulations will be established. A three-kilometer radius around the source of each outbreak is regulated. There will also be controls on vineyards and blueberry and plum farms located up to 500 meters from areas where the moth is detected.

SAG has updated the list of agrochemicals approved for the control of the grapevine moth for the 2016/2017 season. In this case, the list has 25 commercial products that were selected based on the results of tests by SAG. The list includes three pheromones that have been authorized for plague control.