Gyeongbuk Agricultural Research and Extension Services Thoroughly Prepares Organic Grape Farms for 'Garukkakjibeolle' Pest Damage

Organic Grape Powdery Scale Insect Management Tips and Urgent Call for Thorough Control Measures

Damage caused by powdery scale insects.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwiyeol] The Gyeongbuk Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services has presented control guidelines for the ‘Powdery Scale Insect,’ which causes significant damage to organic grape cultivation, and urged thorough preparation.

The Powdery Scale Insect overwinters as egg masses under a rough shell and begins to appear around late April, occurring three times annually from early July to late August.

It sucks sap from grape leaves, branches, and fruits, causing severe damage. Unlike common scale insects, it lacks a shell and moves freely.

The damage pattern includes severe sooty mold caused by excrement, and when it occurs inside grape clusters, the secretions significantly reduce the commercial value, making timely control essential.

Since it is difficult to control once it occurs in organic vineyards, early and active response at the initial outbreak stage is necessary to reduce damage.

According to the Crop Protection Team at the Organic Agriculture Research Institute, the second generation of nymphs appears in early to mid-July, invades inside the bags, and causes significant damage to the fruit.

To effectively control the Powdery Scale Insect, organic materials containing plant extracts such as neem oil, derris, and sophora should be sprayed before bagging, achieving about 79.6% control effectiveness.

After chemical control, bags must be applied to prevent nymphs from entering the fruit, ensuring the production of high-quality grapes.

For overwintering control, continuous management such as removing bark and spraying mineral oils is necessary. Direct removal of bark can reduce the incidence rate by over 90%.

Shin Yongseup, Director of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services, said, “Gyeongbuk is a major production area for high-quality grapes, and the organic market is also growing actively. We will do our best to establish cultivation techniques that can stably produce organic grapes.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.