RIVERSIDE COUNTY GLASSY-WINGED SHARPSHOOTER AREA-WIDE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IN THE COACHELLA AND TEMECULA VALLEYS

• Author(s): Gispert, Carmen; Hix, Raymond; Toscano, Nick; Mulherin, Robert; Perring, Thomas; Snyder, John;
• Abstract: Riverside County has two general areas where citrus groves interface with vineyards; the Coachella and Temecula valleys. The Coachella valley with 12,000 acres of table grapes in proximity to 12,000 acres of citrus and the Temecula valley with 2,000 acres of wine grapes in proximity to 1,600 acres of citrus are vulnerable to Pierces disease (PD), Xylella fastidiosa. The grapes in the Coachella and Temecula areas of Riverside County are in jeopardy because the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), the vector of the PD bacterium, builds up in adjacent citrus groves. Citrus is an important year-round reproductive host of GWSS in Riverside County, but also one that concentrates GWSS populations over the winter months during the time that grapes and many ornamental hosts are dormant. GWSS weekly monitoring in citrus and grapes began in March 2000 in Temecula valley and in 2003 in Coachella valley by trapping and visual inspections. Systemic insecticides such as Admire (imidacloprid), gave excellent control. In 2004 GWSS infestations in Temecula appear to be associated primarily with untreated tracts of vegetation such as organic citrus. Coachella valley GWSS populations have declined substantially relative to the pre-action levels due to insecticide applications.
• Publication Date: Dec 2004
• Journal: 2004 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium