Post by Christine on Aug 26, 2013 15:34:16 GMT
Hello fellow "SWAT" members (acronym for Spotted Winged Annhilation Taskforce!)
Hopefully this discussion board will work for everyone. It will be helpful to have all discussion and comments in one place for referencing. I am copying and pasting all emails as of 11:30am Mon, 8/26/13 in the space below so everyone who joins the board can get caught up.
Here's to a successful harvest, free of SWD damage!
Christine
**********
(Earliest messages at top)
"Christine Vrooman" contact@ankidaridge.com
Date: Fri, Aug 23, 2013 5:46 pm
Greetings all..
It was great receiving such a quick response from so many growers/wine industry members to the email requesting participation in an SWD dialog.. The idea of this email was to encourage dialog amongst growers/winemakers who are facing a common enemy, SWD (and also the Brazilian Fig Fly for some). The discussion here is not meant for public consumption, but rather for all of us to make observations, record them (either mentally or otherwise), experiment, analyze and share.
I am thinking it will be helpful to create a survey, asking questions of experiences and observations, sharing methods of control (or attempted control) and then sharing the results of the survey so that we can all gain from one another's experiences. I will be working on that survey over the weekend and will try to get it out to you (and maybe all VVA members) early in the week.
My observation is the peak time of SWD penetration into the vineyard is now upon us. I observed a noticeable increase in the number of flies around the fruit overnight. Our brix is between 17-18 and they are gathering more around the ripest of the Pinot Noir berries. They are not interested in the Chardonnay. What have your observations been in recent weeks? How have you tried to control them? The more educated we become through one another's experiences, the greater are our chances of maintaining control over these noxious pests.
Some of the questions that would be of value might include:
What year did you first notice (before or after the fact) SWD/BFF in your vineyard?
Which varieties were they attracted to?
At what brix level did you notice (are you noticing) them on the fruit?
Did you use traps? Were they helpful in monitoring the population? Did you notice less flies in the traps once the fruit reached a certain brix?
How early did you spray? Which products? What was most effective? How long residual? How often did you spray?
Did you do anything over the winter to diminish infestation? (for example, we removed an entire hillside of wild blackberries). Have you been able to notice any significant difference? (might be too early yet)
Is your vineyard surrounded by potential hosts, eg blackberries, blueberries, pokeweed, any other?
Did you lose crop last season due to the flies? If so, what percentage?
Do you notice a time of day when the SWD are most active?
Please email me any additional questions you feel would be pertinent.
I have bcc'd names on the list for this email, but think it would be of value for everyone to know with whom they are communicating. The next email I will make visible the names. If you want to opt out of visibility, please let me know. I have also included a few names that I thought might be interested in participating. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, comments, suggestions in helping to create an effective dialog. Please feel free to forward this email to anyone you think would be interested.
Cheers to a sunny, dry weekend!!
Christine Vrooman
******
Sat, Aug 24, 2013 8:58 am
David Lawson <rkatsiteli@comcast.net
I noticed them last year, when they destroyed an acre of Chancellor in a week. All berries turned to mush. I think I also had them in 2011, we had to pick chancellor early about 21Brix. In 2012 we used Malathion and had no luck, but this was after the population was super heavy.
This year I try delegate on the 16th. I saw some SWD then at veriason. Delegate did not seem to do anything. 2 days later I used Mustang Max, the next morning I saw dead flies still on the berries. This was in the morning. I have bees so I am trying not to kill all of them. This has been 4 days ago and still not SWD. So far SWD is not in my Pinot Noir. but are in both fields of Chancellor. The PN is actually in the same block. It seems here they really like Chancellor. It will be a long batte since I am having to spray before veriason is even over. Last year I also did not used near the coverage that I used with Mustang Max. I sprayed at 3km/hour and used 400L acre. I also noticed that my Chancellor on GDC seems to be more prone it SWD.
I think that is does no good to clean land off. I have the only vineyard around for 70 miles and was one of the first in the state to have SWD.
dave
****
Lucie Morton luciemorton@gmail.com
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 8:22 am
This experience makes one wonder if bait vines such as Chancellor could be used to lure and nuke SWD's and keep sprays down on other varieties.
I have heard they prefer PV to Merlot but that is so late ripening that it would make a poor bait plant.
Chancellor might be coaxed into having secondary crop that would bait while PD is ripening?
Dave's further experience this year will be instructive.
Cheers,
Lucie
*****
From:
Robbie Corpora <rcorpora@breauxvineyards.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 8:46 am
Swd spotted today in Nebbiolo, veraison not yet completed. They seemed to be in and around recently deer damaged fruit. I spotted one in Chard at around 14 brix and sprayed malithion on the 20th of August, just in that block. I sprayed Delegate during veraison over the bulk of the vineyard on the August 7, 8, and 9th. I am trying to tackle the problem before it is a population issue. I will be putting malithion down in a the Nebbiolo block today, it will be the first attempt at an insecticide aimed at SWD in Nebbiolo because Nebbiolo was one of the few blocks that did not get Delegate at veraison.
In the past, I have seen them attack Gewurz at around 15 brix, and Pinot Noir just a bit earlier. When I was dealing with any animal damage, deer or bird, I find that they are close behind. Brix level seemed to be irrelevant. As everyone has already pointed out, they seem to prefer darker colored grapes.
I am of the opinion, that once they have established themselves in a block (with eggs laid in berries) nothing will work well. If you spray and kill the adults, the eggs just hatch later that day and the next and the next. Is that an incorrect train of thought? I would be scared to bait them with another crop, unless I was prepared to spray it almost daily or the other crop already existed on my property and I was forced to spray it heavily.
If I leave mustang max as a last resort, are there other options besides malithion and delegate (which maybe does not work)? I have read studies out of UC Davis saying that pyrethroids and pyganic do not work. I have also heard that growers have found some effectiveness in using Potassium Metabisulfate as a spray. Has anyone had any experience with that?
Thanks,
Robbie Corpora
*****
Christopher O Hill <omanhill@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 8:52 am
I like the idea of a "trap" or bait crop that is closely monitored and heavily sprayed. Perhaps there is a "trap" crop that would be even more enticing to SWD than grapes, such as other berry crops, bramble fruits or blueberries or others. {?}
Chris
*****
Lucie Morton <luciemorton@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 9:03 am
Probably someone has thought of this already in other states?
But I would do as Chris says here... spray it continually with idea of not harvesting whatever fruit it is.
We all agree that early intervention is key and some of those on the list have experience (or will if the fruit ever ripens this year!).
Lucie
*****
Christopher O Hill <omanhill@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 9:29 am
In Christine's first email, one of her questions asked about which varieties appeared to be more or less attractive to this critter. We seem to be getting a list of varieties that seem more attractive. Are there thoughts or observations on varieties that might be less attractive and why that might be? Any observations on Petit mensang?
Chris
*****
Robbie Corpora <rcorpora@breauxvineyards.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 9:33 am
Carrington said he was gonna try a fruit zone spray of surround this year.
*****
Christopher O Hill <omanhill@gmail.com> (Add as Preferred Sender)
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 9:37 am
Of course, if we spray frequently, on any crop, do we encourage resistance development that then meanders on over to the grapes? Yikes! Does anything in nature eat fruit flies? There's a lot of protein flying around. Any feedback on the use of Surround{clay spray}?
*****
<jeff@glasshousewinery.com> (Add as Preferred Sender)
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 10:20 am
Without a bait crop already ready, we are thinking we might sacrifice an edge row of earlish grapes (one of the ones they really took to last year-- probably Barbera), not harvest it, and try to keep the fruit flies focused there, continually spraying. It might work once we have harvested the other Barbera.. It is now at about 18.5 Brix (and as an unevenish variety), we likely have clusters at 20-21 Brix... so SWD are there now lightly, don't seem to be doing real damage, we are keeping them down with spray every 2-3 days (rotation of Delegate for as long as we can, Mustang, Malathion); would expect harvest in 2-4 weeks -- broad range as Barbera very, very reactive to weather..
Last year, our experience was no fruit flies in white varieties (inc Pinot Gris), they showed first in Barbera; once that was harvested they moved en bloc to Chambourcin; once that was harvested, en bloc again to CFranc..
Very interested in Surround experiences!!
I have Blueberries (120 plants) near my red vines; I have never seen any interest in Blueberries from SWD or any fruit fly.. I know they like blackberries and other bramblies.
*****
Lucie Morton <luciemorton@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 10:39 am
To: jeff@glasshousewinery.com
I have seen them on blueberries planted next to vines!
This from the web:
www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2013/08/10/blueberry-harvest-goes-into-overdrive-keep-new-pest-from-destroying-maine-crop/HVPactW59pQHrwzOlsWM0L/story.html
"This year’s crop is threatened, however, by a red-eyed, weak-flying fruit fly that has soft-fruit farmers across the United States scrambling to protect not just blueberries, but raspberries, blackberries, and late-season strawberries. The spotted wing drosophila, an Asian fly found in California in 2008, first showed up in New England in 2011. In 2012, an estimated 2 million pounds of wild Maine blueberries alone, worth close to $1.4 million, were lost, according to eFly, a consortium of researchers and farmers studying the pest."
Lucie
*****
Stephen Ballard" <sballard@annefieldvineyards.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 11:00 am
I was just reviewing Virginia's page on them --
www.virginiafruit.ento.vt.edu/SWD.html
An update was made August 23 -- in a prior version they recommended alternating Delegate and Malathion; the recent revision appears to have removed Delegate. Is this a tacit admission that recommending the very expensive Delegate was flawed?
Hopefully this discussion board will work for everyone. It will be helpful to have all discussion and comments in one place for referencing. I am copying and pasting all emails as of 11:30am Mon, 8/26/13 in the space below so everyone who joins the board can get caught up.
Here's to a successful harvest, free of SWD damage!
Christine
**********
(Earliest messages at top)
"Christine Vrooman" contact@ankidaridge.com
Date: Fri, Aug 23, 2013 5:46 pm
Greetings all..
It was great receiving such a quick response from so many growers/wine industry members to the email requesting participation in an SWD dialog.. The idea of this email was to encourage dialog amongst growers/winemakers who are facing a common enemy, SWD (and also the Brazilian Fig Fly for some). The discussion here is not meant for public consumption, but rather for all of us to make observations, record them (either mentally or otherwise), experiment, analyze and share.
I am thinking it will be helpful to create a survey, asking questions of experiences and observations, sharing methods of control (or attempted control) and then sharing the results of the survey so that we can all gain from one another's experiences. I will be working on that survey over the weekend and will try to get it out to you (and maybe all VVA members) early in the week.
My observation is the peak time of SWD penetration into the vineyard is now upon us. I observed a noticeable increase in the number of flies around the fruit overnight. Our brix is between 17-18 and they are gathering more around the ripest of the Pinot Noir berries. They are not interested in the Chardonnay. What have your observations been in recent weeks? How have you tried to control them? The more educated we become through one another's experiences, the greater are our chances of maintaining control over these noxious pests.
Some of the questions that would be of value might include:
What year did you first notice (before or after the fact) SWD/BFF in your vineyard?
Which varieties were they attracted to?
At what brix level did you notice (are you noticing) them on the fruit?
Did you use traps? Were they helpful in monitoring the population? Did you notice less flies in the traps once the fruit reached a certain brix?
How early did you spray? Which products? What was most effective? How long residual? How often did you spray?
Did you do anything over the winter to diminish infestation? (for example, we removed an entire hillside of wild blackberries). Have you been able to notice any significant difference? (might be too early yet)
Is your vineyard surrounded by potential hosts, eg blackberries, blueberries, pokeweed, any other?
Did you lose crop last season due to the flies? If so, what percentage?
Do you notice a time of day when the SWD are most active?
Please email me any additional questions you feel would be pertinent.
I have bcc'd names on the list for this email, but think it would be of value for everyone to know with whom they are communicating. The next email I will make visible the names. If you want to opt out of visibility, please let me know. I have also included a few names that I thought might be interested in participating. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, comments, suggestions in helping to create an effective dialog. Please feel free to forward this email to anyone you think would be interested.
Cheers to a sunny, dry weekend!!
Christine Vrooman
******
Sat, Aug 24, 2013 8:58 am
David Lawson <rkatsiteli@comcast.net
I noticed them last year, when they destroyed an acre of Chancellor in a week. All berries turned to mush. I think I also had them in 2011, we had to pick chancellor early about 21Brix. In 2012 we used Malathion and had no luck, but this was after the population was super heavy.
This year I try delegate on the 16th. I saw some SWD then at veriason. Delegate did not seem to do anything. 2 days later I used Mustang Max, the next morning I saw dead flies still on the berries. This was in the morning. I have bees so I am trying not to kill all of them. This has been 4 days ago and still not SWD. So far SWD is not in my Pinot Noir. but are in both fields of Chancellor. The PN is actually in the same block. It seems here they really like Chancellor. It will be a long batte since I am having to spray before veriason is even over. Last year I also did not used near the coverage that I used with Mustang Max. I sprayed at 3km/hour and used 400L acre. I also noticed that my Chancellor on GDC seems to be more prone it SWD.
I think that is does no good to clean land off. I have the only vineyard around for 70 miles and was one of the first in the state to have SWD.
dave
****
Lucie Morton luciemorton@gmail.com
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 8:22 am
This experience makes one wonder if bait vines such as Chancellor could be used to lure and nuke SWD's and keep sprays down on other varieties.
I have heard they prefer PV to Merlot but that is so late ripening that it would make a poor bait plant.
Chancellor might be coaxed into having secondary crop that would bait while PD is ripening?
Dave's further experience this year will be instructive.
Cheers,
Lucie
*****
From:
Robbie Corpora <rcorpora@breauxvineyards.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 8:46 am
Swd spotted today in Nebbiolo, veraison not yet completed. They seemed to be in and around recently deer damaged fruit. I spotted one in Chard at around 14 brix and sprayed malithion on the 20th of August, just in that block. I sprayed Delegate during veraison over the bulk of the vineyard on the August 7, 8, and 9th. I am trying to tackle the problem before it is a population issue. I will be putting malithion down in a the Nebbiolo block today, it will be the first attempt at an insecticide aimed at SWD in Nebbiolo because Nebbiolo was one of the few blocks that did not get Delegate at veraison.
In the past, I have seen them attack Gewurz at around 15 brix, and Pinot Noir just a bit earlier. When I was dealing with any animal damage, deer or bird, I find that they are close behind. Brix level seemed to be irrelevant. As everyone has already pointed out, they seem to prefer darker colored grapes.
I am of the opinion, that once they have established themselves in a block (with eggs laid in berries) nothing will work well. If you spray and kill the adults, the eggs just hatch later that day and the next and the next. Is that an incorrect train of thought? I would be scared to bait them with another crop, unless I was prepared to spray it almost daily or the other crop already existed on my property and I was forced to spray it heavily.
If I leave mustang max as a last resort, are there other options besides malithion and delegate (which maybe does not work)? I have read studies out of UC Davis saying that pyrethroids and pyganic do not work. I have also heard that growers have found some effectiveness in using Potassium Metabisulfate as a spray. Has anyone had any experience with that?
Thanks,
Robbie Corpora
*****
Christopher O Hill <omanhill@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 8:52 am
I like the idea of a "trap" or bait crop that is closely monitored and heavily sprayed. Perhaps there is a "trap" crop that would be even more enticing to SWD than grapes, such as other berry crops, bramble fruits or blueberries or others. {?}
Chris
*****
Lucie Morton <luciemorton@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 9:03 am
Probably someone has thought of this already in other states?
But I would do as Chris says here... spray it continually with idea of not harvesting whatever fruit it is.
We all agree that early intervention is key and some of those on the list have experience (or will if the fruit ever ripens this year!).
Lucie
*****
Christopher O Hill <omanhill@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 9:29 am
In Christine's first email, one of her questions asked about which varieties appeared to be more or less attractive to this critter. We seem to be getting a list of varieties that seem more attractive. Are there thoughts or observations on varieties that might be less attractive and why that might be? Any observations on Petit mensang?
Chris
*****
Robbie Corpora <rcorpora@breauxvineyards.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 9:33 am
Carrington said he was gonna try a fruit zone spray of surround this year.
*****
Christopher O Hill <omanhill@gmail.com> (Add as Preferred Sender)
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 9:37 am
Of course, if we spray frequently, on any crop, do we encourage resistance development that then meanders on over to the grapes? Yikes! Does anything in nature eat fruit flies? There's a lot of protein flying around. Any feedback on the use of Surround{clay spray}?
*****
<jeff@glasshousewinery.com> (Add as Preferred Sender)
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 10:20 am
Without a bait crop already ready, we are thinking we might sacrifice an edge row of earlish grapes (one of the ones they really took to last year-- probably Barbera), not harvest it, and try to keep the fruit flies focused there, continually spraying. It might work once we have harvested the other Barbera.. It is now at about 18.5 Brix (and as an unevenish variety), we likely have clusters at 20-21 Brix... so SWD are there now lightly, don't seem to be doing real damage, we are keeping them down with spray every 2-3 days (rotation of Delegate for as long as we can, Mustang, Malathion); would expect harvest in 2-4 weeks -- broad range as Barbera very, very reactive to weather..
Last year, our experience was no fruit flies in white varieties (inc Pinot Gris), they showed first in Barbera; once that was harvested they moved en bloc to Chambourcin; once that was harvested, en bloc again to CFranc..
Very interested in Surround experiences!!
I have Blueberries (120 plants) near my red vines; I have never seen any interest in Blueberries from SWD or any fruit fly.. I know they like blackberries and other bramblies.
*****
Lucie Morton <luciemorton@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 10:39 am
To: jeff@glasshousewinery.com
I have seen them on blueberries planted next to vines!
This from the web:
www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2013/08/10/blueberry-harvest-goes-into-overdrive-keep-new-pest-from-destroying-maine-crop/HVPactW59pQHrwzOlsWM0L/story.html
"This year’s crop is threatened, however, by a red-eyed, weak-flying fruit fly that has soft-fruit farmers across the United States scrambling to protect not just blueberries, but raspberries, blackberries, and late-season strawberries. The spotted wing drosophila, an Asian fly found in California in 2008, first showed up in New England in 2011. In 2012, an estimated 2 million pounds of wild Maine blueberries alone, worth close to $1.4 million, were lost, according to eFly, a consortium of researchers and farmers studying the pest."
Lucie
*****
Stephen Ballard" <sballard@annefieldvineyards.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2013 11:00 am
I was just reviewing Virginia's page on them --
www.virginiafruit.ento.vt.edu/SWD.html
An update was made August 23 -- in a prior version they recommended alternating Delegate and Malathion; the recent revision appears to have removed Delegate. Is this a tacit admission that recommending the very expensive Delegate was flawed?
