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How Native Insects Could Reduce Pesticide Use in Northwest Vineyards

Posted by entomology.office | May 7, 2012

Nov. 25, 2011 | Northwest Public Radio

PROSSER, Wash. – For every crop, there are good-guy bugs and bad-guy bugs.

Take Washington’s prized crop of wine grapes. Now, consider the anagrus wasp and the leafhopper.

Going by their names, the wasp sounds like the scarier insect, right? But the grape leafhopper can actually do a great deal of damage. Large numbers of leafhoppers suck sap out of grape leaves. And that means less fruit.

Entomologist David James says the anagrus wasp is smaller than a pinhead. And it can easily control one of Washington grape growers’ main pests. read full article