"Attract the good bugs, and birds to eat the bad bugs.”
Life is abuzz at Jordan Vineyard and Winery in Alexander Valley after the company pursued an extensive pollinator garden project. Jordan Winery
Vineyard Insectaries Attract Beneficial Bugs, Feed Birds that Eat the Others
Nov 1, 2021 at 3:50pm
When facing the elements, viticulturists are willing to do just about anything to safely and naturally solve their disease and biodiversity woes. So when one such solution -- or rather part of the solution -- takes the form of beautiful blooms and buzzing bees, it's not hard to imagine why so many California vineyards use insectaries as an asset.
One such vineyard is the Groth estate in Napa Valley’s Oakville, where Suzanne Groth and vineyard manager Ben Forgeron are working to attract beneficial insects like butterflies, ladybugs, bees and aphid-killing parasitic wasps.
“We are operating on attracting, feeding and housing the pollinator and predator,” said Groth. “The trees, shrubs and grasses attract all of these, and diversify our insect, bird and reptile population.”
For example, Groth staff have chosen to plant yarrow -- scientific name Achillea millefolium Paprika -- to attract ladybugs, which will then (hopefully) eat disease-spreading leafhoppers before they can infect the vineyard.
“We’ve also planted California Lilac (Ceanothus) to encourage the lacewing population that combat the mealy bugs that spread mold and virus in the vineyard,” said Groth. “All in all we are hoping to encourage the bugs to balance each other out to eliminate the need for any chemical intervention … This is just one tool in the belt of Ben Forgeron.”
Groth says Forgeron can also use hormone therapy -- or sexual confusion -- to attract certain insects and make it difficult for them to find a mate.
“Like the European Grapevine Moth,” she said.
Continue reading the article from the Napa Valley Register here.