Mating disruption
Pheromone that stops the grapevine moth mating.
Mating disruption is the tool of choice against the grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) in organic. Dispensers release the female sex pheromone, saturating the air and stopping males from finding females.
No mating means no egg-laying and no larvae — and fewer larvae means fewer cluster wounds and less entry for botrytis. It works best over continuous areas with low starting pressure, backed by trap monitoring.
Effort
Medium — annual dispenser placement and monitoring.
Cost
Medium to high per hectare, but highly selective.
Time to result
In the same season, if well implemented.
What it works against
Effectiveness by problem — click through for detail and metrics.
How it works
Saturating the air with pheromone masks the females’ trail, stopping males from locating them and breaking the pest’s reproductive cycle.
How to apply
- 1Install dispensers before the first spring flight.
- 2Cover continuous, large-enough areas.
- 3Monitor trap catches to confirm efficacy.
- 4Log placement and results per plot.
What to measure
Frequently asked
Does mating disruption work on small plots?
It is most effective over continuous, large areas, because mated females can enter from the edges. On small isolated plots efficacy drops.
Do I still need to monitor with traps?
Yes — traps confirm the disruption is working and flag whether reinforcement with Bacillus thuringiensis is needed.
Related reading
Related means
How GrapeFlow helps
Apply and document this means by plot, with an audit-ready history for certification.
Pest monitoring & traps
Moth catches in pheromone traps and field observations logged on site, to decide on action thresholds.
Electronic field notebook
All operations — weeding, green manure, biocontrol — logged by plot and date, ready for organic certification.
Phytosanitary register with authorised inputs
Every treatment logged with product, rate and active substance, flagging what is allowed under organic rules — an audit-ready history.