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The South African winery Vergelegen in Somerset West collaborates 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 there. 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 U.S. news channel CNN. About 500 wasps are released per drop, originating from South African breeding.
The winery's managers aim to ensure that the wasps, once fully grown, will eliminate aphids in the vines. They are one of the main causes of the dreaded leaf roll virus. Due to its impact on the grapevines, the grapes ripen unevenly and take much longer to reach the necessary maturity.
According to SkyBugs, this method is faster, more cost-effective, and environmentally friendly compared to the application of pesticides. The wasps lay their eggs in the aphids, eating them from the inside and thus reducing the risk of the virus spreading in the vineyard. The project was announced in March 2024 and is now in use in the vineyards of Vergelegen after several tests.
The winery, which has 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 grapevines of Vergelegen were planted as early as 1700. In 1992, Baron Eric de Rothschild, owner of Château Lafite in Bordeaux, transformed the winery by building an underground cellar on a hill there. In 2019, Vergelegen was declared a provincial monument in the Western Cape.
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(uka / Source: Drinks Business, Aerobotics, Skybugs)