Chile activates 2025–26 Lobesia botrana control calendar

Chile has opened the 2025–26 Lobesia botrana control season. SAG released the first-generation application calendar for grapes and plums, with defined windows by region and agroclimatic “alert zones” from Coquimbo to Biobío.

Lobesia botrana is the European grapevine moth, a quarantine pest whose larvae feed inside grape clusters, causing berry damage, rot and major losses in yield and quality. It primarily affects grapes but can also attack plums and other hosts. Native to Europe, it has spread to parts of the Americas, Africa and the Middle East, becoming one of the most serious pests for commercial vineyards due to both crop damage and export restrictions.

Application windows and obligations

The notices, published under the National Lobesia botrana Program (PNLb), guide growers to apply insecticides at the optimal moment to reduce damage and avoid MRL breaches in export markets. SAG also confirmed that from 4 December 2025, vineyards in control areas may begin treatments for the second generation.

Conventional and organic orchards must maintain 30 days of uninterrupted protection. Consecutive applications should start two days before the previous product’s protection period ends. All first applications in vineyards under mandatory control must be completed by 14 December 2025.

Producers must apply at the correct phenological stage, respect MRLs by market, and notify their PNLb office 48 hours before each treatment.

Tools and criteria

Authorised products, efficacy data, technical guidelines, and PNLb contact information are available here. The calendar reflects pest biology and climate variability; SAG defines dates using alert zones, RPF system data, monitoring stations, and records from INIA and FDF.

Growers can review detailed regional dates and download the 2025–26 official documents in the “Grape and Plum Application Notices” section of SAG’s website.

source: frutasdechile.cl

photo: abidigitallibrary.org