A VMB parasitoid, Anagyrus pseudococci, has been released in vineyards as part of an IPM program. Photo A: Anagyrus female searching for a host: note the position and movement of antennae. Photo B: Anagyrus female exhibiting oviposition behavior: downward position of antennae, and posterior oriented toward VMB to probe with ovipositor and potentially lay an egg.

A B

Vineyard location

No. blocks monitored Traps out Traps in No. males

Carneros-site A 2 Mar 25, 2014 Apr 17, 2014 28

0

Carneros-site B 2 Apr 3, 2014 Apr 22, 2014 18

0

Napa County—Carneros Vineyard, 3 vines sampled on April 29, 2014

VINE MEALYBUG (Planococcus ficus) Ovisac 1st instar

(crawler) 2nd

instar 3rd instar Female Mummy

(parasitized MB)

Empty mummy (emerged

parasitoid)

Under bark

Life stages found 19 127 30 5 12 3 1

Percent of sampled population 9.8% 65.8% 15.5% 2.6% 6.2%

On leaves Life stages found 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Percent of sampled population 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Percent of total sampled population 9.8% 65.8% 15.5% 2.6% 6.2%

In vineyard blocks with established VMB populations, males have been detected in traps and during sampling (photo, page 2). Trap counts may vary by block, population size, and location of trap in relation to the population.

A generation of VMB is hatching at a sampling site in Carneros: on April 29, 66% of the sampled population was in the 1st instar stage. See photo, page 2 to distinguish life stages. All VMB were found under bark, so good coverage would be critical to successful management with insecticides. Results of insecticide trials conducted by UCCE and UC IPM may inform management activities. IPM programs may include insecticides, biological control, mating disruption and ant management.

1st instar (crawler)

1st instar (crawler), hatching from ovisac

Female

Parasitized VMB (Mummy)—note loss of wax

“Empty” mummy-parasite has emerged

Male

VMB life stages in a Carneros vineyard April 29, 2014

M. Cooper, Farm Advisor-Viticulture, UC Cooperative Extension, Napa County cenapa.ucanr.edu