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Invasive Grapevine Moth Caught In Santa Clara Co.

SAN JOSE (CBS/AP) – Grape growers and wineries in parts of Santa Clara County will have to follow new rules on how they handle and process grapes after the European grapevine moth was discovered for the first time in the county.

The San Jose Mercury News reports that three of the invasive pests were caught in traps placed in vineyards on Sept. 15 and 17.

The discovery prompted agriculture officials to issue new restrictions within a 93-square mile area near Gilroy and Morgan Hill.

Kevin O'Day, Santa Clara County's acting agricultural commissioner, says growers will have to follow more stringent cleaning rules for grape bins, while wineries will have to crush grapes they receive from growers in the area within two hours.

The grape-eating moth has spread to several California counties since it was first discovered in Napa in September of 2009.

(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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