California winegrowers on edge over pest that could devastate lucrative industry

The California Association of Winegrape Growers is urging other winegrowers to be on high alert for spotted lanternflies that are sharing egg masses, as some have been found that may produce adult bugs in the coming weeks — with peak populations expected in late summer or early fall. “It’s terrifying to know that a small pest has the potential to devastate the livelihood of our growers and ravage an industry that is so vital to the California economy,” a California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) representative told Fox News Digital this week.California winemakers produce 80% of America’s wine.The state is also the fourth-largest wine producer in the world, according to the Wine Institute, a public policy advocacy organization located in California.“SLF’s [the spotted lanternfly’s] potential impact on vineyards could ripple through tourism, taxes, and employment across the state,” the representative said.Dr.

Dan Suiter, University of Georgia’s Orkin Professor of Urban Entomology, told FOX Business that spotted lanternflies are not actually flies, but aplant-feeding insect called a true bug.“They’re a plant-sucking insect, and they feed primarily on the Tree of Heaven, but their host range is over 100 different plants.Unfortunately, grapes [are] one of them,” said Suiter.The California wine industry generates $73 billion in annual economic activity within the state of California and $170.5 billion for the U.S.

economy, according to the Wine Institute.Luis Magdaleno, Munselle Vineyards’ pest control adviser and viticulturist in Geyserville, California, said his team has not encountered the pest yet, but if they do, it will be “pretty bad.”And, “education and early detection are key” for vineyard owners, according to the representative of the Winegrape Growers.“Learning to identify SLF in its various life stages is crucial for tackling this pest early if it arrives in California.Many counties have proactively remove...