Drone applications of ISCA’s insect mating disruption innovation covered in Argentinian press

The Argentinian daily newspaper Los Andes has picked up on an important story about an ISCA, Inc. innovation that protects vineyards from the highly damaging grapevine moth, known scientifically as Lobesia botrana.

For the first time, the Institute of Agricultural Health and Quality in Argentina (ISCAMEN) is using precision drones to apply ISCA’s SPLAT Lobesia to vineyards in the Mendoza Province.  Drones, as well as manned aircraft, are applying the product on more than 20,000 hectares (49,421 acres) in Argentina’s idyllic wine country just east of the Andes Mountains. The drones allow for more hard-to-reach areas to be treated. ISCAMEN has used fixed-wing aircraft to apply the product since 2018.

SPLAT Lobesia is a thick liquid that can be efficiently sprayed from aircraft flying at a speed of 120 mph. It is an eco-friendly solution that protects the vineyards from hungry grapevine moth caterpillars by preventing the adult moths from mating.  Once it lands on the foliage, thousands of its droplets slowly emit the appropriate amount of Lobesia botrana sex pheromone for about 45 days. The overabundance of sex pheromone in the field confuses the male moths, making it nearly impossible for them to find the females for mating. Since most females are left to lay sterile eggs, few hungry caterpillars hatch, and the crops thrive.

“This is a biodegradable product, the use of which contributes to protecting the ecological balance of our crops, protecting beneficial insects, and avoiding problems with secondary pests,” the article said.