EFFICACY OF INSECTICIDES USED FOR GLASSY-WINGED SHARPSHOOTER CONTROL IN CITRUS

• Author(s): Grafton-Cardwell, Elizabeth; Kallsen, Craig; Bartels, Marjie; Reagan, Chris;
• Abstract: Glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), Homalodisca coagulata, is currently infesting more than 130 square miles of grapes, citrus, and urban landscapes in Kern County. Citrus is a preferred oviposition host for GWSS, thereby acting as a source of adults that move into grapes and potentially vector Pierces disease (PD). The incidence of PD in Kern County was thought to be very low, however, after 4+ years of heavy GWSS densities in the General Beal Road area, the incidence is beginning to escalate. Kern County grape growers are aggressively treating their vineyards with pesticides and requesting that neighboring citrus growers treat their orchards as well. Research is needed to understand how efficacious citrus insecticides are against GWSS and how these additional treatments will disrupt citrus IPM. While vector control is not the long-term solution to the PD problem, it will be important in the short-term to slow the spread of the disease in Kern County and help delay the advance of GWSS into other agricultural areas of the San Joaquin Valley.
• Publication Date: Dec 2001
• Journal: 2001 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium