Eradication Planned After Pesky Moth Discovered In Gilroy Grapevines

GILROY (KCBS) - It's baaaaack: the pesky European Grapevine Moth.

To date, the moth has been detected in ten California counties, including Napa and Santa Cruz. Three moths were also recently trapped in Gilroy.

KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:

"We did pick up three moths last September and now we've just picked up three more in the same area in early April," said Santa Clara County Agricultural Commissioner Kevin O'Day. "So, we're working with homeowners in that area to remove the flower cluster, the flower and the fruit, and we're also working with commercial growers in that area to conduct treatments."

A 94 sq. mile quarantine area has been established in Gilroy, with eradication efforts expected to formally begin next week.

"We're working with five commercial growers within the treatment area and there's 90 properties where homeowners may have grapes, we'll be visiting each of those 90 properties to see if they do in fact have grapes," said O'Day.

"This moth can be very, very destructive," he warned. "The immature stage of the moth is a worm and those worms feed on the grape berries and they tunnel through the clusters, causing damage which then opens up areas for mold and infection to enter the cluster."

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