A great variety of pests affect vines: grapevine moths, flavescence dorée leafhoppers, green leafhoppers, mealybugs, etc. (Refer to section Disease and Pest Management. Control of these pests requires identification, vineyard monitoring and quantification of the damage caused. Control can also involve the use of certain biocontrol agents such as mating disruption for vine moths, for example, to combat grape worms.
There are other means of biocontrol of these pests, notably the use of auxiliary predator organisms. This list is not exhaustive and mentions the Auxiliary population of the principal grapevine pests.
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Typhlodromes: they are mainly predators of red and yellow mites but also thrip larvae. They represent an alternative to the use of acaricides. Generally observed on the undersides of the leaves, their presence varies depending on various factors, such as grape variety, the use of phytosanitary products and weather conditions. Reducing the use of phytosanitary products and planting grass and/or flowering areas encourages the presence of this acarophagous insect.
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Ladybird larvae: they feed primarily on thrip larvae, mealybugs, mites, aphids and caterpillars. They can also feed on vines, however, this type of damage has never been observed in France. Maintaining grass cover, soil cover and insect shelters helps to establish them in the vineyard.
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Lacewings: these flying insects are the main predators of aphids, but also of mealybugs, mites and leafrollers.
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Earwigs: they are predators of leafroller caterpillars and small snails. They live mainly in a cool, low-light environment.
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Shield bugs: these feed on mites and aphids.
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Hymenoptera: like wasps, they feed on numerous insects, particularly caterpillars.
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Parasitoids: Trichogramma (micro-hymenoptera generally smaller than a millimetre in size) and other species function by egg parasitism. The females lay eggs which serve as hosts and food for the trichogramma larva development. These insects can be found in the vineyard from April to November. Parasitoids are mainly predators of moth eggs and are therefore a valuable means of biocontrol.
It is possible to attract these beneficial auxiliary organisms by measures such as planting hedges.