ABSTRACT
The invasive European grapevine moth Lobesia botrana (Denis & Schiffermüller) was first detected in 2010 in the Province of Mendoza, Argentina, after it became established in neighbouring Chile in 2008. Foreseeing the threat to the major wine and table grape industry of the Province of Mendoza, the Institute for Agricultural Sanitation and Quality of Mendoza Province (ISCAMEN), established the “Lobesia botrana Control and Eradication Programme” that has been following an area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) strategy. The mainstay of this programme is widespread mating disruption against the adult moth population with judicious application of selective biological and chemical insecticides targeting the immature stages of the first two generations of the pest. We describe the spread of the pest in the Province of Mendoza since its introduction in 2010, the control tools currently being used, and the results achieved so far in suppressing the pest in the four main oases of Mendoza Province, as well as the future prospects for control. Before L. botrana detection, the absence of a major, direct pest of grapes meant that limited interventions were required in the management strategies used in the vineyards of the Province of Mendoza. Therefore, the challenge was to maintain a high level of natural biological control while introducing a pest management programme for L. botrana (i.e. mating disruption and conventional insecticides) that would not impact the complex of beneficial insects well established in the region. The situation required a great effort involving training, knowledge and technology transfer from public organizations to the private sector (growers and industry), and communication with environmental organizations. After two intensive control seasons with area-wide suppression of the pest as the main objective, population’s levels of L. botrana have decreased dramatically. It required a substantial financial investment and technical effort to cover vineyards over a total area of 160 000 ha. Decision making for suppression activities was supported by the use of mapping software (GIS) to visualize programme results every week in terms of moth population levels. Although the support from the industries and growers has been instrumental to the success of this area-wide programme, the challenge will be to maintain this support to further suppress the pest and, eventually in the future, to eradicate L. botrana from Mendoza Province.
