Enhancing Vineyard Health: Successful Scaphoideus titanus Monitoring with Trapview solution

September 10, 2024

The American grapevine leafhopper (Scaphoideus titanus) is a significant pest of grapevines as it causes substantial economic damage. It does not cause significant direct damage to grapevines, but by feeding on plants of the Vitaceae family, it acts as a vector of the grapevine phytoplasma disease Flavescence dorée. Native to North America, it was accidentally introduced to Europe, where it spread rapidly.

The American grapevine leafhopper (Scaphoideus titanus)

Life cycle:
It has only one generation per year. Fertilized females lay several eggs during summer and early autumn in crevices in the bark of disintegrating vine wood. The eggs spend the winter in diapause and hatch the following spring. Outbreaks begin in early May and last 6 to 12 weeks.
The development cycle larval has 5 stages, each lasting approximately 10 days. They move by jumping.
The adults appear between mid-July and early August and remain in the vineyard until September. They move by flying.

Scaphoideus titanus.

Scaphoideus titanus.

Damage:
The most striking symptoms of Flavescence dorée are delayed or lack of bud break on damaged vines and leaves curling downwards, becoming yellowish in white cultivars or reddish in red ones. With reduced photosynthesis activity the phytoplasma can also cause not only lower grape quality but up to 50 % reduction in yields.

Given the serious nature of this disease, early detection and control of nymphs were prioritized to prevent its spread. Up until now, the vineyard employed traditional monitoring techniques, including regular inspections and the use of yellow adhesive plates to track the presence of nymphs and adults.

Scaphoideus titanus damage in vineyards/grapes.

Scaphoideus titanus damage in vineyards/grapes.

Approach

Monitoring with Trapview Vertical SC traps began in early July. Taps were placed across several vineyards in the observed region. We pooled data from these traps, along with traditional monitoring methods, to assess the presence of Scaphoideus titanus and the effectiveness of earlier nymph-targeted treatments.

We noticed that despite widespread efforts to control nymphs, there was still a significant presence of adults in some areas. The Trapview data showed regional variations in adult emergence, with some vineyards experiencing peaks earlier than others. This information prompted the cooperative to recommend additional treatments in vineyards where adult populations were highest, even in cases where traditional traps indicated low numbers.

Trapview Vertical SC trap in grapes.

Trapview Vertical SC trap in grapes.

Results

Data-driven decisions led to timely interventions that effectively controlled the adult Scaphoideus titanus population. The early intervention proved effective, significantly reducing the nymph population. Follow-up inspections showed minimal nymph presence, and adult captures on Trapview traps were lower than in previous years. Additionally, vineyards that followed the crop advisors’ recommendations saw lower disease incidence compared to those that did not participate in the regional monitoring effort. The success of the strategy was attributed to the daily comprehensive monitoring and the ability to respond quickly to changes in pest populations. Despite this success, the presence of even a few adults later in the season led to a secondary treatment to ensure the disease did not spread.

Accumulated pest pressure of Scaphoideus titanus.

Accumulated pest pressure of Scaphoideus titanus.

Scaphoideus titanus catches in Trapview Vertical SC trap.

Scaphoideus titanus catches in Trapview Vertical SC trap.

Average pest pressure of Scaphoideus titanus.

Average pest pressure of Scaphoideus titanus.

Conclusion

This case study underscores the importance of regional daily monitoring and collaboration among vineyards in managing Scaphoideus titanus. By leveraging data from Trapview Vertical SC trap, crop advisors were able to make informed decisions that protected the grapevines from golden cane yellows. The case illustrates how area-wide daily monitoring can enhance pest control efforts and improve outcomes for entire regions.

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Source: Trapview Group