Grape Cane Gallmaker, Ampeloglypter sesostris (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The grape cane gallmaker is a small, brown snout beetle, about 1/8 inch long and closely related to the grape cane girdler. Adult beetles overwinter in wooded and brushy areas close to vineyards. During May the beetles emerge from their hibernation quarters. The female gallmaker chews a row of holes along the length of a shoot, just above a node. She places an egg in the hole closest to the node. A reddish swelling, or gall, develops in the shoot, and the larva feeds within the shoot area that is affected. The swelling is usually about 3/4-1 inch long.

Female beetles deposit eggs from late May through June, beginning when the shoots are 10-20 inches long. The larvae are fully developed by late July and pupate inside the galls. New adult beetles emerge during August and seek overwintering areas in late summer and fall. One generation occurs each year.

Most of the galls are produced beyond the grape clusters, so loss of crop is slight. Canes having the galls are able to produce and bear a crop the following season. If the grower desires to remove galls by pruning, action should be taken before mid-July as the beetles will begin to leave the galls by that time.

Current pesticide recommendations may be found HERE

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