Phylloxera (Viteus vitifoliae)
It spreads fear and terror in the vineyards when it attacks the vines in armies. It is therefore not surprising that every appearance of phylloxera is notifiable. The pest attacks the vines in various forms and sucks their life away. The 1 millimeter small females are ocher yellow and winged. The wingless males are bright yellow.
also read
- The best care for grapevines - an overview
- How can grapevine powdery mildew be effectively combated?
- Grapevines even thrive on the balcony - this is how it works
The use of refined grape varieties has established itself as the most successful method against phylloxera. Vine-tolerant rootstocks from America are used, which have been preventing the dreaded invasions of the pests for some time. Therefore, when purchasing young plants, pay attention to the offers of noble varieties or you can refine the vines yourself as part of the propagation.
Vinepox mite (Colomerus vitis)
The tiny gall mites cause pox-like bumps on the tops of the leaves in spring and summer. In the further course a white felt develops, which appears brown-red in red grape varieties. Therefore, this damage pattern is often confused with the fungal infection powdery mildew. The use of a pesticide based on rapeseed oil is only recommended if the infestation pressure is very high. Otherwise, infected leaves should be cleaned.
Vine cutter (Byctiscus betulae)
The 5 to 7 millimeter small beetle is hard to miss with its shiny metallic body in golden yellow, blue or purple. From April to September, the grapevines prefer to attack grapevines. The females gnaw on the leaves to wilt them. They then wrap their brood in it. Each female destroys up to 30 leaves, so that the supply of the grapes is endangered. How to take action against the pests:
- regular inspections of the vines for an infestation
- Consistently collect the beetles and curled leaves
- Do not plant grapevines in close proximity to deciduous trees
Insecticides are no longer allowed for use in allotment gardens and are not sensible with regard to the digestibility of grapes.
Tips & Tricks
The omnipresent black weevil does not spare the grapevine. The adult beetles harm the plants as well as their larvae. Nematode traps have proven to be an effective ecological control method. The ingenious construction is filled with the roundworms and works for 6 weeks per 10 square meters.
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