Why California Wine Vineyards May Be Wiped Out Completely
Your days drinking wine from California Vineyards may be numbered as they could be soon wiped out completely.
This article is more than 2 years old
If California didn’t already have enough threatening its natural landscape between periods of intense drought and onslaughts of relentless, destructive, and deadly wildfires, the state now has another thing on its plate to be concerned about. CNET reported that California Vineyards are in grave danger of being all but totally decimated. The culprit – the spotted lanternfly.
The spotted lanternfly poses an immense threat to all California Vineyards because of its affinity for feasting on grapes and other stone fruits. However, this fly just doesn’t like to feast on these fruits it likes to devour them in mass quantities. And if that was destructive enough, the residue that it leaves behind causes mold to grow on the crops. Hence, any remaining grapes will likely succumb to the mold’s deadly ravages.
The spotted lanternfly has its origins in east Asia. The egregious yet resourceful little critter made its way to the US by means of unwitting travelers. Unbeknownst to these travelers, scientists believe the coy fly laid its eggs in the luggage of backpackers and others who like to traverse the outdoors. This is what eventually allowed the species of fly to touch down on the United States’ eastern coastline. The spotted lanternfly can now be found in Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. The fly’s quick spread is what is causing researchers to sound the alarm bell for California Vineyards.
Many vineyards in Pennsylvania have already become victims of the spotted lanternfly’s destructive ploys. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has taken notice of the agricultural devastation that these flies have the propensity to inflict. There are currently measures in place encouraging anyone who spots even one of these flies to report it immediately so swift action can be taken to eradicate the local population of them. However, judging by scientific models, the fate of California Vineyards is projected to be far worse. And even more disheartening still is that the flies will likely reach the state as early as 2027.
When the flies do arrive in California it’s only a matter of time before the Vineyards start to become affected by the bugs’ appetite for grapes. Early models suggest that in some areas as much as 83% of California Vineyards will be completely destroyed as a result of the merciless onslaughts of these vile insects. Overall, researchers believe that every winemaking county will likely lose about 50% of its vineyards subsequent to the arrival of the menace flies.
The future of California Vineyards as things stand now looks exceedingly ominous. The grape-feasting vineyard-destroying spotted lanternflies coupled with the already prevalent effects of climate change paint a picture that is besiegingly grim. However, there is one tiny flicker of hope in the midst of all the forebodings. Scientists are hopeful that by warning California ahead of time, the state will have time to proactively put measures in place that could help to preserve at least some vineyards that might otherwise be lost.
