Grape Mealybug

Life history

Grape mealybugs overwinter as eggs or crawlers within the loose cottony egg sac under bark scales on scaffold limbs, in other sheltered places on trees, or in duff at the bases of trees.

Crawlers start emerging from egg sacs at the beginning of bud swell and begin feeding on the bases of buds. When buds open they go directly to new shoots and leaves. Because some overwintering sites are exposed to sun while others are shaded, crawler movement occurs over a long time, ending at about petal fall. First generation nymphs mature during late June and July in the Northwest. Adult males appear first, mate with last instar nymphs or adult females and die. Receptive females release a pheromone to attract males. Mated females migrate to sheltered areas, lay eggs and die in the egg sac. A partial second generation matures in late August and September. Nymphs of this generation sometimes settle in or around the fruit calyx.

Damage

The most obvious damage by grape mealybug results from the honeydew it secretes. Honeydew is cast off in small drops and falls down through the canopy. When it lands on fruit it causes a coarse, black russet, which is similar to pear psylla russeting. However, mealybug russeting is scattered over the fruit surface, while honeydew from psylla is in patches or streaks. Mealybug russeting is most common in low centers of trees, whereas psylla damage occurs more evenly over the trees or in the tops.

When mealybug populations are dense, they may enter the calyx ends of fruit, causing contamination problems on processed fruit. Their feeding softens tissue in the calyx and around the seed cavity. Symptoms resemble those of a disorder called pink end.

Monitoring

There are no established treatment or damage thresholds for grape mealybug. When infestations are detected they usually need to be controlled. Check during the dormant season for eggs and crawlers in egg sacs under bark scales on scaffold limbs and in other protected areas on trees. The white cottony mass makes egg sacs easy to see. During delayed-dormant and clusterbud stages, crawlers can be monitored by examining developing buds on short limbs and spurs arising from scaffold limbs in low centers of trees. It is easy to detect infestations in late June or July when mature females are crawling back to larger limbs to deposit eggs or during harvest when damaged fruit is evident in bins. However, little can be done to control mealybugs at these times. If the infestation is spotty, as it often is when this pest first invades orchards, mark infested trees so they can be given special attention.

Biological control

The predator-parasitoid complex that attacks grape mealybug in orchards has not been thoroughly studied. Many generalist predators, such as lacewings, ladybird beetles and predaceous bugs, will feed on this pest. An encyrtid egg parasitoid, Acerophagus notativentris, is common in infested orchards. Grape mealybug populations are generally reduced to nondamaging levels by natural control in orchards where soft pesticide programs are used for a few years.

Management

Chemical control

Chemical control of grape mealybug works best when sprays are aimed at the crawler stage. Once crawlers settle and cover themselves with wax they are less susceptible to chemicals, as are crawlers still in the egg sac. Crawlers emerge from egg sacs over a long period. First generation emergence continues from delayed-dormant stage of tree development to petal fall. Effective chemical residues must be maintained throughout that period. A series of sprays, including delayed-dormant, clusterbud and petal fall applications, is required to control first generation crawlers. The two most effective times to spray are clusterbud and petal fall. Both sprays are needed and good spray coverage is essential. If possible, apply succeeding sprays at right angles to the preceding one to improve coverage of hard-to-hit areas of trees. Scaly areas on trunks and limbs and sucker crowns in the tops of trees should be sprayed with a handgun.