Please see PaDIL (Pests and Diseases Image Library) Species Content Page Bugs: Glassy-Winged Sharp Shooter for high quality diagnostic and overview images.
\nYoung nymphs feed on the stems of the plant on which they hatched and are known to consume up to 10 times their weight in liquids in one hour. Active stages of the insect must feed constantly to avoid starving to death as adults cannot survive for more than about 4h without food (MAF n.d.). Because xylem is so nutrient poor H. vitripennis display host switching which allows them to take advantage of differing nutrient levels between plants. They must respond quickly to changes in xylem fluid content by dispersing to find plants with the highest nutrient levels. Adult glassy-winged sharpshooters are strong fliers and can disperse great distances to search for optimal host plants (Blackmer et al. 2003 in Mizell et al. 2008).
Principal source:
Compiler: National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) & IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)
Updates completed with support from Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)- Biosecurity New Zealand
Review:
Publication date: 2010-05-28
Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2024) Species profile: Homalodisca vitripennis. Downloaded from http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/speciesname/Homalodisca+vitripennis on 07-10-2024.
There are almost 150 known strains of X. fastidiosa, which may be benign or cause mild to severe disease symptoms. In grapes one of these strains causes a lethal disease known as Pierce’s disease, which is a particular problem in California vineyards as grapes are one of the most economically important crops in California (US $4.1 billion/year) (Krugner et al. 2008). Pierce’s disease has been particularly damaging to wine grapes in the Temecula Valley viticulture area, where losses have been as high as 20-30% for some vineyards (Hix 2001 in Byrne and Toscano 2007). Although the disease has been present for many years, it was easily managed because native sharpshooters were poor vectors. The arrival of GWSS, which are far more efficient vectors, has allowed the bacterium to spread much further causing damage to hundreds of hectares of vines (MAF n.d.).
In California X. fastidiosa also causes oleander leaf scorch, almond leaf scorch, mulberry leaf scorch, cherry plum leaf scorch and sweet gum dieback. Outside of California other strains of the bacterium cause phony peach disease, plum leaf scald, leaf scorches in sycamore, elm, maple, and oak,and variegated citrus chlorosis (Varela et al. 2007).
The glassy-winged sharpshooter is also a problem due to the production of large amounts of white excrement (“sharpshooter rain”) which damages cars and other surfaces (Varela et al. 2007).
The main chemical used to protect Xylella-susceptible plants in both commercial agriculture and urban landscapes is imidacloprid, which is registered for home and professional landscape use on nonfood crops.
Parasitoid wasps are the most commonly used biocontrol agent against GWSS. Searches for parasitoid wasps have resulted in the collection of several mymarid and trichogrammatid species. In California species released include Gonatocerus ashmeadi, G. fasciatus, G. morrilli, and G. triguttatus, and most recently a strain of Anagrus epos from Minnesota (Morse et al. 2006). Research by Krugner et al. (2008) aims to determine host range and efficacy of A. epos against GWSS populations.
Please follow this link for more details on the control options used for the management of the glassy-winged sharpshooter.