Invasion of the Grape Snatchers

Not only is there still much mowing to do in the vineyard thanks to the grass-nourishing rains, but now the brucchi are hatching and munching as you can see below.

To stop the larvae of the European Grape Moth (Lobesia Botrana), a pest first seen in Napa Valley vineyards only last year, I have to walk the vine rows with a pump sprayer full of Bacillus Thuringiensis spores. This organic remedy is like stomach flu for caterpillars and will stop the ones I can’t see. I hope.

For the ones I can see, there’s the pincer attack. Thumb and forefinger. Pop! This activity is decreasingly disgusting and increasingly satisfying as one goes, I assure you.