TY - JOUR AU - Geiger, Chris AU - Daane, Kent M. AU - Bentley, Walter J. AU - Yokota, Glenn AU - Martin, Lee A. TI - Sampling program for grape mealybugs improves pest management JF - California Agriculture JO - Calif Agr Y1 - 2001/05/01 VL - 55 IS - 3 SP - 19 EP - 27 PB - University of California Agriculture and Nature Resources SN - 0008-0845 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.3733/ca.v055n03p19 L3 - 10.3733/ca.v055n03p19 AB - The results of a mealybug study in Central Valley vineyards, designed to develop sampling guidelines, reveal that mealybug distribution on vines varies greatly through the season and that mealybugs usually prefer concealed locations, such as under bark. This combination makes sampling difficult. A number of sampling techniques were compared. Three- or 5-minute timed counts were most efficient because samplers could follow the mealybugs' movement over the season. Midseason counts were much better predictors of damage at harvest than early season counts. This research confirms past control guidelines and opens new control options. Grape bunches touching vine trunks or spurs will have higher damage. Removing these bunches or using barriers between bunches and mealybug oviposition sites can also reduce damage.