Vine mealybugs (Planococcus ficus) were found in southern San Joaquin Valley vineyards in 1998, the Central Coast in 2000, and in the Sacramento Valley, Sierra Foothills and the North Coast in 2002. By the end of 2004, infestations were known to occur in 16 counties, and an additional three counties were suspected of having infested vineyards. This pest can cause economic damage in vineyards by the sheer number of insects, the excessive honeydew they excrete and by the dramatic, black sooty mo...