Bat eating bugs are great for vineyard pest management

Bats are at the top of the agenda when it comes to sustainable viticulture in California. The role of bats to manage pests and bugs in vineyards is being formally recognized in the Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing and the California Sustainable Winegrowing Practices programs. At a grower meeting organised by the Lodi Winegrape Commission bat expert Dr Dave Johnston summarised the benefits of bats and ways to encourage their presence in vineyards. During the growing season every bat eats its weight in insects every night but attracting bats to the vineyard is the challenge. Creating an ecosystem that involves water helps to promote riparian vegetation for the bats and oak trees can provide ideal roosting sites, as do attics of barns and other structures. But Johnston has observed that stand-alone bat houses generally don't work very well so as with anything when it comes to attracting bats to your vineyard its all about location, location, location!