Glassy-winged sharpshooter spotted in Marin

Marin County agricultural inspectors spotted and captured an adult female glassy-winged sharpshooter in a shipment of plants from Southern California at a local nursery, reported Richard Halstead in the Marin Independent Journal. GWSS is able to spread a deadly plant disease pathogen that affects grapes - Pierce's disease - and diseases of other plants.

The plants were immediately sent back to Ventura County, one of seven Southern California counties where the pest is established.

"They should be more careful down south," said Lucia Varela, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) Cooperative Extension entomologist. She said plant material shipped from counties with sharpshooter infestations are supposed to be inspected at its point of origin and at the destination.

"This is an extremely serious insect pest we need to continue to keep out of Marin County and the Bay Area," said Marin Agricultural Commissioner Stacy Carlsen in a statement released by the County of Marin. "The potential damage to our landscape plants, gardens and environment is significant."

The county news release refers the public to the UC ANR resources on glassy-winged sharpshooter in its Statewide Integrated Pest Management database.

Read more