Now’s the Time to Hunt for Scale!

With the canopy out of the way and perhaps pruning done, it’s the perfect time to scout for juvenile scale insects overwintering and leftover shells from last season. Check spurs and bark crevices on cordons, crowns, and trunks – these are prime hiding spots.

Why now?

With better visibility, you can easily spot and tag population hotspots. Keep monitoring these locations and consult your local agronomist or viticultural advisor to inform your best approach.

Why it matters:

Scale insects can cause more than just sooty mould. Their activity at various life cycles and stages of vine growth can lead to:

• Delayed budburst
• Weakened canes
• Poor structural development
• Spread of other vineyard diseases
• At vintage, scale can result in fruit downgrade or rejection due to sooty mould and bunch rot. Over time, if left unchecked, a site will experience reduced vine vigour, fruit quality, and even vine death.

Begin the hunt now Protect your vineyard

Email: leahh@riverlandwine.com.au

Pictured: Young female Parthenolecanium scale on wood. Image courtesy of David Logan, SARDI/University of Adelaide