Arthropod Community Dynamics in New Varietal Vineyards CATI Publication No. 9810G3 Viticulture and Enology Research Center October 1998 CONCLUSIONS spider Ebo pepinensis,as well as various species of General summary observations from the 1997 wingless scelionid and ichneumonid wasps. Ripperdan Project include the following: 3) Densities of important insect pests, such as 1) Spiders and beneficialinsects can be quite abundant Erythroneura leafhoppers and omnivorous leaf-roller larvae, may remain very low throughout an entire Research Notes in established, well-balanced vineyard ecosystems, growing season coincident with natural enemy but they may also reach relatively high densities in numbers at relatively high levels. For example, field non-insecticide treated vineyards during the first- parasitization rates for OLR may at times reach 50% California State University, Fresno leaf growth season. (far above the more commonly reported 10% level). 2) High numbers of relatively unknown natural 4) From the relatively limited results of the first season enemies may be found in typical San Joaquin Valley Arthropod Community Dynamics In New of this ongoing research project, no evidence was vineyards when appropriate care is given to sam Varietal Vineyards pling techniques and procedures. Examples of these collected which suggests any particular arthropod obscure predators and parasitoids include the pest problems in the less traditional grape varietals being planted in the San Joaquin Valley. by Mark A. Mayse, Jo Harper and Jason Stock previously umeported vineyard philodromid INTRODUCTION fumigated with methyl bromide, and the remaining During recent years, a number of San Joaquin Valley 6-acre portion left non-fumigated; and 2) a lOO-acre winegrape growers have decided to investigate the Chardonnay block (791CH, comprised of 64 acres About CATI... fumigated and a 36-acre non-fumigated section). Areas commercial feasibility of growing certain cultivars which The California Agrlcuiturai Technology Institute CAT! also acts as a clearing house for technical infor have traditionally been more common in coastal vine between vinerows in the fumigated sections of the (CATI) is a non-profit, educational institution committed to mation compiled through the various research centers. yards. Two of these new varietals which have sparked newly-planted blocks had essentially no cover vegeta improving the profitability of California agriculture. Publications include the quarterly l/pc/afe newsletter, \ interest among San Joaquin Valley winegrape growers tion, while some resident vegetation persisted in the Based at California State University, Fresno, CATI technical bulletins and research reports. Inaddition, CATI are Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Beyond the non-fumigated portions of these two first-leaf vineyard offers continuing education programs designed to aid predominant question of how will such historically plantings. operates under a permanent research mandate from the agricultural Industry professionals in expanding their busi uncommon cultivars perform (i.e., yield/quality) under Also studied during 1997 were a 145-acre block of California State Legislature. Fundingsupport is bolstered by valley climatic conditions, relatively limited research has Cabernet Sauvignon grafted over established Grenache a variety of publicand private institutions that acknowledge ness contacts and skills. CATI-sponsored events include been conducted into the patterns of arthropod commu vines (781CS), as well as a long-established 40-acre block CATI's leadership in applied research and information conferences, seminars, training workshops, and field days. nity dynamics (both pest and beneficial species) in such of Ruby Cabernet (745RC).Row middles in the grafted dissemination to the agricultural community. For those Interested in computer-based and Internet new vineyards. Cabernet and established Ruby Cabernet blocks had CATI oversees operations of four centers which serve communications, CATI's Advanced Technology Informa cover crops which were periodically mowed, along with The broad objective of this research is to determine as bases for research and development activities. They tion Network (ATI-Net) provides state-of-the-art World Wide some bermuda grass and clin:\bing weeds on the berms. how patterns of arthropod community dynamics in includethe Center for Agricultural Business (CAB), which Web (WWW) services to California agribusiness and the Arthropods in all four vineyards were sampled by newly-planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay offers resources and expertise in the areas of production local business community. Services include design and pitfall traps (three each in grafted Cabernet and estab vineyards compare and contrast with arthropod patterns agriculture and agribusiness; the Center for irrigation hosting of home pages on the web, as well as dissemination found in a recently grafted Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard lished Ruby Cabernet, with four traps each [two in Technology (CIT), which wori<s withgrowers, irrigation of international trade leads, job opportunities, and research and a long-established and ecologically well-balanced fumigated/two in non-fumigated areas] in the newly- equipment manufacturers and government agencies to information generated by CATI, California agribusiness, Ruby Cabernet vineyard in the San Joaquin Valley. improve Irrigation equipment and water use efficiency in . educators, and other researchers. Visit the CATI and ATI-Net Thispublication was produced under both agriculturaland urban areas; the Viticulture and i websitesatwww.atinet.org/cati. STUDY AREAS AND METHODS the auspices ofthe Enology Research Center (VERC), which conducts ; For more information on programs or services, contact All four vineyards studied in this research project CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTt research in the areas of product.development, grape variety CATI at the following address: from 21June 1997through 25January 1998 were located testing, pest and disease control, and dried fruit technology; at E&J Gallo Winery's Ripperdan Ranch located in California Agricultural Technology Institute and the Center for Food Science and Nutrition Research Madera County,approximately 30milesnorthwest of 2910 B. Barstow Ave. M/S 0F115 (CFSNR), which conducts research and seete to stren0hen Fresno, Califorrua. The two newly-planted (i.e.,first leaf Fresno, CA 93740-8009 partnerships between private industry and public agencies during 1997) vineyards included 1) a 42-acre Cabernet Voice: (559)278-2361 CATI Publication #981003 Sauvignonblock(772CS), with 36acreshavingbeen in the areas of food science and nutrition research. Web site address: http://www.atinet.org/cati Arthropod Community Dynamics in NewVarietal Vineyards CATI Publication No. 981003 Arthropod CommunityDynamics in New Varietal Vineyards CAT! Publication No. 981003 planted Cabernet and Chardormey blocks)set at soil level staphylinid beetles, green lacewings, and various preda nearby newly-planted Chardonnay block. OLR life tory hemipterans) were found in the four vineyards. in the berms and checked at weekly or bi-weekly inter stages ranged from small early instar larvae through Polycmbryonic vals throughout the season. Leaf counts for leafhopper As might be predicted based upon the substantial pupae and adult moths. Following harvest (mid- 15V. Tachinid nymphs (20 leaves examined per vineyard on each ecological contrast of the newly-planted vs. the estab September), OLR densities dropped substantially. 20% sampling date) were also conducted in all four vineyards. lished vineyards, patterns of spider diversity and abun Numerous OLR larvae and pupae were returned to the Unfortunately, volume in the sparse first-year canopies of dance were highly variable. It should be noted again that VERC Entomology Laboratory for rearing out potential the newly-planted vineyards was insufficient throughout due to limited volume in the canopy of the new vine parasitoids. This activity yielded an estimate of roughly 1997 to allow for the 10 canopy shakes per date sampling, yards, spider data for those two vineyards came only 50 percent parasitism of OLR larvae/pupae in the which was performed in the two more well-established from pitfall trap samples. On the other hand, both pitfall Ripperdan vineyards (cf. UC Grape Pest Management vineyards. and shake data for spiders were compiled from the Manual suggestion that OLR parasitoids seldom ac Spiders, among the most important beneficial grafted Cabernet and the established Ruby Cabernet count for more than 10 percent mortality, even when arthropods monitored using both the canopy shake vineyards. In general, the two newly-planted vineyards OLR populations are large and damaging). Ichncumonid and pitfalltrap sampling techniques, were ecologically proved to be quite similar with respect to distribution and Patterns of parasitoid recovery from vineyard- 30% classified into three distinct groups based on their pre types of spiders and beneficial insects. For these first-leaf collected OLR larvae and pupae (Fig. 2) included the ferred location in the vineyard (i.e., canopy, or floor, or vineyards, the fumigated section of the new Cabernet following: 1) tachinid flies accounted for 20 percent of Bracooid both; see also Table 1 note): Group 1 - ground hunting Sauvignon block had slightly more spiders. total, emerging from OLR pupae collected in late 35% spiders (mostly runners and ambushers,including wolf Highest total spider counts, along with