(Wines&Vines) - The European grapevine moth has been successfully “eradicated” from California, according to county, state and federal agricultural officials who also lifted quarantine restrictions to prevent the spread of the insect. 

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) made the announcement Aug. 18. The European grapevine moth (EGVM) was first detected in Napa County in 2009 and then found in Fresno, Mendocino, Merced, Nevada, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Joaquin, Solano and Sonoma counties in subsequent years. All of the counties are home to significant vineyard acreage. Since June 25, 2014, the moth has not been found anywhere in the state. 

According to the statement released by the CDFA, the infestation peaked in 2010, with more than 100,000 of the moths detected. This led to an “intense period” of coordinated trapping, treatments and other efforts to curb the spread of the moth. The number of moths found in 2011 dropped to just 144. As a result of the collaborative efforts between, USDA, CDFA, county agricultural commissioners, grower liaisons, University of California Cooperative Extension and growers, the quarantine area in California shrunk from a high of 2,334 square miles in 2013 to 446 square miles in 2014. 

Growers in quarantine areas underwent regular inspections of their vineyards and followed strict regulations while disposing of vineyard cuttings, while wineries faced similarly rigid rules about transporting grapes. 

"It is no easy feat to eradicate an invasive species—especially one like the European grapevine moth—when it gains a foothold in a place as hospitable as California's prime wine grape growing region," said Karen Ross, CDFA secretary. "It's no accident that this program has performed so well when you consider the ground we've covered together before and the relationships in place because of the ongoing, cooperative program created by this industry years ago to combat Pierce's disease and the glassy-winged sharpshooter."