Alien invasive pests threaten to disrupt ongoing efforts to adopt more environmentally friendly pest management practices in the viticultural sector. In Europe and, more specifically for this chapter, in southern Switzerland, the last decade has seen an increase in the frequency of introductions of harmful insect species. In this chapter, we will present and discuss experiences gained with the Flavescence dorée pathosystem, the spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, and more recently introduced species such as the leafhopper Erasmoneura vulnerata and the leafminer Aspilanta oinophylla.
While the use of insecticides is often necessary in the early stages of invasion, alternative solutions are needed in the medium term to respond to the compounded impacts of invasive pests, climate change and increasingly stringent regulations on plant protection products. We present case studies where a better understanding of the characteristics of the environment and landscape structure can be leveraged to enhance natural pest regulation mechanisms. Against this backdrop, we discuss the prospects for a systems approach based on habitat management strategies to ensure vineyard productivity while meeting public and market demands for sustainable viticultural practices.