Mechanisms to control grape erineum mite Colomerus vitis Pgst. in organic, biodynamic and traditional vineyards of the Crimea

Eco-oriented organic and biodynamic vineyards no longer relying on pesticides in protection schemes are indicative of a current trend in grape and wine growing of the Crimea. In this connection, new solutions to reduce pests and diseases have to be sought for, and monitoring which includes both eco-faunistic research and prediction of the numbers of phytophages is becoming of primary importance in the system of control of injurious species on grapes. A wide distribution of grape erineum mite Colomerus vitis Pgst. was registered in the bearing study vineyards on the South Coast of the Crimea and in the south-west of the Peninsula though its economic damage is negligible. The risk of the detrimental effect of the mite in the young study vineyards during the first two years after planting was stated. Key mechanisms to regulate the numbers of C. vitis in the organic and biodynamic study vineyards were revealed, such as winter pruning of canes as part of farming practices, application of sulfur to control Erysiphe necator, and natural regulation by indigenous predatory species of mites and other insects.

Native insectary plants support populations of predatory arthropods for Australian vineyards

We provide a summary of two recent studies that investigated the role that three native insectary plants can play in promoting predatory arthropods, and thereby to enhance biological control of vineyard pests in Australia. Native plants are preferred as supplementary flora, as they are locally-adapted to Australia's climatic conditions. Stands of mature Bursaria spinosa, Leptospermum continentale and Rytidosperma ssp. located adjacent to, or in vineyards, in South Australia were sampled for arthropods in 2013/14. Grapevines were also sampled to explore relationships between each plant and associated arthropods using common diversity indices. Twenty seven thousand and ninety-one individual invertebrate specimens were collected, comprising 20 orders and 287 morphospecies. These were categorised into functional groups of predators, herbivores and other. Predatory arthropods dominated the diversity of morphospecies present on each plant. The richness of predator morphospecies across all plant types was nearly double the number found in association with grapevines. It may be possible to increase the functional diversity of predatory arthropods by more than 3x when either B. spinosa or L. continentale is present versus grapevines only, and increase the net number of predator morphospecies by around 27% when Rytidosperma ssp. are planted in combination with grapevines. The selected plants provide a suitable habitat to support diverse and functional populations of predatory arthropods. The opportunity to plant selected native insectary species could help wine grape growers save time and resources by producing fruit with lower pest incidence, while enhancing biodiversity associated with vineyards.