Biocontrol By Drones For Vineyards
The most efficient way to release natural enemies in your vineyards
Why Use Biocontrol in Vineyards?
Natural Enemies of Mealybugs
Vine mealybug (Planococcus ficus), Grape mealybug (Pseudococcus maritimus), Citrus mealybug (Planococcus citri)
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
(Mealybug destroyer)
Anagyrus vladimiri
Natural Enemies of Spider Mites
Two-spotted spider mites and other mites species present in vineyards
Neoseiulus californicus
Phytoseiulus persimilis
other commercially available predators include: Galendromus occidentalis (Western predatory mite), Amblyseius andersoni
Natural Enemies of Leafhoppers
Green lacewing
Advantages of releasing beneficials from a drone for grape growers
Easy access to the vineyard
Drones effectively release beneficial insects even in difficult to access vineyards located on steep hillsides or in muddy terrain.
Better establishment than manual release
Releasing predators and parasitoids by hand at a uniform rate is often time challenging for field workers covering large areas. The drone can easily do uniform applications from the air in a fraction of the time, avoiding peak temperatures of the day that could be detrimental to beneficials.
Better use of your vineyard crew
When a field crew needs to cover several ranches or is busy performing other critical tasks in the vineyard, it can take a few days to apply beneficials manually. With the drone, a single pilot covers one acre per minute instead of one acre per hour for a manual release.
Our Articles Related to Biocontrol in Vineyards
Discover some of our articles about biological control in vineyards
O’Neill Vintners & distillers’ journey from sustainable to regenerative viticulture at Robert Hall Winery
A discussion with Caine Thompson, managing director of Robert Hall Winery on the goals of their regenerative viticulture study started in 2020.
Mobilize a Well-Trained Vineyard Crew for Pest Scouting and IPM
A discussion with Kent Daane of the the University of California, Berkeley about the need to manage insecticides as part of an IPM program, the biological control agents being used in vineyards, and the use of cover crops for promoting vine health.
How a California viticulturist uses biological control and cultural practices to combat pests
A discussion with David Gates of Ridge Vineyards on how pest pressure varies according to the location and variety of the vine, beneficial insects he has used in his vineyards, and some of the cultural practices he implemented to limit pest pressure.
Why a Leading Central Coast Vineyard Is Transitioning to Organic Production
A discussion with Greg Gonzalez of Scheid Vineyards on the importance of the vineyard crew’s role in an IPM program, and on misconceptions about the cost of transitioning to organic.
From Industrial Pesticides to Integrated Pest Management: A New Trend in Vineyard Practices
A discussion with Kent Daane of the the University of California, Berkeley about the need to manage insecticides as part of an IPM program, the biological control agents being used in vineyards, and the use of cover crops for promoting vine health.
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