Episode Details

Microbats are tiny natural predators with a big appetite for insects, but the uniform structure of a vineyard can keep them from venturing far into the block. Matt Fowles, Owner and CEO of Fowles Wine, noticed that vineyard blocks near trees had less moth pressure than those bordered by open grassland.

He shares how that observation inspired a system of vertical structures designed to give microbats echolocation points and encourage them to move deeper into the vineyard. Early trials show increased bat activity and promising potential for natural pest control in vineyards.

Resources:

• 272: 30 Gophers a Night: Why Barn Owls Belong in Your Vineyard
• 306: Using Barn Owls for Gopher and Rodent Control in Vineyards
• Bat Navs: A project by Fowles – Series Trailer
• Fowles Wine Activates $500K Grant to Go Into Bat for Aussie Viticulture, Safeguarding Against Costly Pests
• Matt Fowles - Fowles Wines - a cool-climate wine producer
• Microbats (little bats)
• Microbat | Wikipedia
• The bats safeguarding against pests in vineyards
• What are 5 species of microbats?

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