SEASONAL CHANGES IN THE GLASSY-WINGED SHARPSHOOTERS AGE, STRUCTURE, ABUNDANCE, HOST PLANT USE AND DISPERSAL

• Author(s): Luck, Robert; Redak, Richard; Coviella, Carlos; Workman, Juliana;
• Abstract: The glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), Homalodisca coagulata (Say) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) is an exotic insect in California, likely introduced from southeastern United States in the late 1980s. In California, it reportedly feeds on 73 plant species in 35 families and has the ability to spread Xylella fastidiosa, plant-pathogenic bacteria with differing pathovars each of which infects one or more economically important plant species. GWSS vectors Pierces disease (in grapevines), phony peach disease, almond leaf scorch and oleander leaf scorch. Moreover, the vector is very mobile and occurs throughout the year; thus, to understand the epidemiology of these diseases, it is crucial that we are able to track GWSS movements among its various hosts. To accomplish this end, we have developed a mark-recapture technique to track field movements of adult GWSS using fluorescent colored dust as a marker. Greenhouse trials show no significant difference in mortality and longevity of marked versus unmarked (=control) adults. We also monitored spatial movements of adult GWSS in 1) a citrus grove east of Bakersfield, California, 2) between a citrus grove and adjacent vineyards east of Bakersfield, California, 3) in a barren field in southern California and 4) in a lemon/Valencia orange grove interface on the Citrus Experiment Station at UC Riverside.
• Publication Date: Dec 2001
• Journal: 2001 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium