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The South African winery Vergelegen in Somerset West is collaborating with the companies SkyBugs and Aerobotics to drop wasps of certain species over its vineyards. SkyBugs provides the insects, while Aerobotics' drones fly over the vineyards and distribute them. The drones fly about 30 meters above the vines, unfold a plastic sheet, and release the wasp pupae. "This is the stage between larva and adult insect," explained Matt Davis from Aerobotics to the US news channel CNN. Approximately 500 wasps are released per drop, originating from South African breeding.
The winery's management aims for the wasps, once they mature, to eliminate aphids in the vines. They are one of the main causes of the dreaded leafroll virus. Their impact on the vines leads to uneven ripening of the grapes, which take much longer to reach the necessary maturity.
According to SkyBugs, this method is faster, more cost-effective, and environmentally friendly compared to pesticide spraying. The wasps lay their eggs in the aphids, eating them from the inside out, thereby reducing the risk of the virus spreading in the vineyard. The project was announced in March 2024 and is now in operation in the vineyards of Vergelegen after several tests.
The winery, covering 117 hectares of vineyard area, has been owned since 1987 by the British, internationally active mining company Anglo American, based in London. The group also owns the famous South African winery Boschendal. The first vines of Vergelegen were planted as early as 1700. In 1992, Château Lafite owner Baron Eric de Rothschild, based in Bordeaux, transformed the winery by constructing a sunken cellar on a hill. In 2019, Vergelegen was declared a provincial monument in the Western Cape.
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(uka / Source: Drinks Business, Aerobotics, Skybugs)