Pest Moth in Napa

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have confirmed the detection of a single adult light brown apple moth on May 9 in a residential area of Napa.

The Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) is an exotic pest that can affect a wide variety of plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables. The insect feeds on over 250 plant species, including eucalyptus, apple, oak, willow and grapes. The larvae will feed on grape clusters, increasing botrytis infections. It can be controlled using Bt (Bacillus thuringensis bacteria) insecticides and insect growth regulators.

The moth has recently been discovered in other areas of the San Francisco Bay Area. Agricultural officials have established a quarantine including portions of Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, Marin and Santa Clara counties. The quarantine is expected to expand soon due to more recent detections of the pest in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties.

SB 556, a proposed bill introduced by California State Senator Patricia Wiggins (D – Santa Rosa) to address the potential threat posed by the LBAM was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee.