Grapevine scale biology and monitoring in Australian vineyards

This project aims to address key research gaps on scale insects in Australian winegrape vineyards, equipping growers with the knowledge needed to implement sustainable and effective management strategies for these challenging pests. A combination of field, laboratory and greenhouse studies will be used to: - identify the key scale insect species and map their distribution in Australian winegrape vineyards - understand the biology of scale insects, focusing on crawler emergence timing, number of generations per year, and the activity of natural enemies, to inform region-specific management strategies - evaluate the effectiveness and impact of current vineyard management strategies on scale pest populations, to identify successful methods and areas for improvement in pest control practices - test various pesticides on different life stages of scale insects to optimise chemical application timing and effectiveness.