When it comes to the European grapevine moth or light brown apple moth, the main battle is man versus insect for control of vineyards.

But some local growers say another front involves the general public.

Jim Lincoln, vineyard manager for Beckstoffer Vineyards, said “the public doesn’t understand agriculture anymore.”

Lincoln’s frustration, shared by agricultural officials, stems in part from what he sees as an irrational reaction to the idea of using relatively benign pesticides to battle the moths and other pests. Proposals to use pesticides certified as organic to fight the pests have met with skepticism from the public and environmental activists in other parts of the state.

Furthermore, he said, there needs to be “some serious education why the public should not bring fruits and vegetables (into the United States) from foreign countries.”

“Once it’s here,” said Lincoln, “it can jeopardize an entire industry.”

Lincoln recalled the controversy California Department of Food and Agriculture officials encountered when they wanted to spray pesticides to control light-brown apple moth in Monterey County several years ago. The Pesticide Action Network and others objected to the proposed use of pesticides and ultimately stopped the spraying. Agricultural officials contended the proposed spray was safe for humans and wildlife and the most effective method of eradicating the pest.

That debate, said Lincoln, “was with a product that is as safe as it gets. You can’t count on being able to use aerial spraying anymore. The public perception of that kind of technique is just not favorable.”

Dave Whitmer, Napa County agricultural commissioner, believes the proposed eradication method in Monterey County would have been safe for the public. But he said agricultural officials failed to anticipate the reaction and should have given the public and advocates a significant opportunity to study the issue.

“Looking back, all the options should have been presented to the public for discussion,” said Whitmer.

U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesman Larry Hawkins agreed most people are not as connected to agriculture as they used to be. “But, I do believe people in the Napa Valley are more connected. I’m not sure people in urban centers have the same feeling of awareness.”

Whitmer and Lincoln said farmers today are using the least invasive products and techniques possible in their bug battles.

“We don’t use ‘hammer’ products any more.” Lincoln said. “We’re using softer products. The bottom line is that non-native pests translate into more work, more labor and more money.”

The sterile moths being deployed against the light-brown apple moth are one example of a method that should have no impact on neighbors or the soil.

“Light-brown apple moth is here and is something we have to live with. I think it will be wonderful if the sterile moth works,” Lincoln said.

Hawkins said a statewide advertising campaign is under way to inform people about invasive pests. But the task of keeping pests out is daunting.

Food and food products, as well as immigrants and travelers, cross the globe routinely, creating an endless stream of opportunities for exotic bugs to land in new territory.

USDA inspections at the U.S-Mexico border and ports “are as strong as possible,” said Hawkins.

But, he said, “At the Port of Long Beach, one container ship can drop 7,000 containers. And there are several that come in every day. You can’t open all those containers. There just aren’t the resources. You take the resources you have and apply them where they can do the most good.”

Long Beach is, of course, only one of several active ports on the West Coast taking in freight from across the Pacific.

“At the border crossings, the inspectors take their jobs seriously and are doing the best job possible to protect against invasive pests,” said Hawkins. “It’s not foolproof. There is not a day that goes by when someone isn’t caught smuggling agricultural produce, plants, animals, seeds or flowers.”

Whitmer, whose office patrols plant shipments coming into the county for everything from the glassy-winged sharpshooter to the new moths, said pest prevention is the key. “But we have become such a global economy,” he said. “And our society is more diverse than ever before.”

The bottom line is that it is not realistic to expect that the moths will be the last unwelcome visitors to Napa Valley.

“I’m not sure if anything else can be done,” said Monica Cooper, a UC Cooperative Extension expert and farm advisor for Napa County. “We still don’t understand how (light-brown apple moth) got into this county … and we don’t know exactly how long it has been here. But once we were aware of its presence we have done all we can.”