HOST SELECTION BEHAVIOR AND IMPROVED DETECTION FOR GLASSY-WINGED SHARPSHOOTER, HOMALODISCA COAGULATA (SAY)

• Author(s): Andersen, Peter; III, Russell;
• Abstract: The glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), Homalodisca coagulata, a major leafhopper vector of Pierces disease, Xylella fastidiosa, in the Southeast, has recently colonized many locations in California with devastating results. Better and more effective monitoring tools are needed to detect GWSS presence at very low population levels for regulatory and quarantine purposes and to accurately estimate local GWSS population density. Other than direct observation or sweep net collection, the only available survey and detection tool is a yellow sticky trap. CDFA is presently using the Pherocon AM yellow trap configured in two dimensions to capture GWSS adults. Yellow traps capture significantly more GWSS than other colors. Other data suggests that GWSS behavior is driven primarily by vision, and while GWSS apparently can visually discriminate between host plants and other objects, GWSS does not appear to use plant volatiles in host finding. No research has been directed towards improving the yellow trap or to evaluate trap precision at detecting GWSS relative to GWSS population density. We are investigating trap size, shape, and spectral reflectance pattern along with placement parameters (height, background, proximity to vegetation) to optimize a field detection method for GWSS. We are also investigating GWSS behavior during host plant searching and selection.
• Publication Date: Dec 2001
• Journal: 2001 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium