Mating disruption against pest control
The effectiveness, measured
Time horizon: 1 season
Why it works
It is the most effective and selective means against the grapevine moth in organic: it cuts mating and, with it, larvae and cluster wounds.
What to measure for this pairing
Why this problem matters
The main pests — the grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) and leafhoppers — are managed organically without synthetic insecticides. The moth opens wounds that are an entry point for botrytis, tying pest control to disease control.
The tools are pheromone mating disruption, conservation of beneficials (predators and parasitoids) and authorised products such as Bacillus thuringiensis. Trap monitoring and action thresholds avoid needless interventions.
Problem indicators
Certification & rules: Mating disruption and biocontrol are pillars of integrated production and organic status.
How to apply the means
- 1Install dispensers before the first spring flight.
- 2Cover continuous, large-enough areas.
- 3Monitor trap catches to confirm efficacy.
- 4Log placement and results per plot.
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.
Same problem, other means — Pests
How GrapeFlow helps
The proof organic certification demands — logged by plot and date.
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.