Glassy-winged sharpshooters transmit fatal bacterial diseases of several economically important agricultural crops. Specifically, this insect can transmit Pierce's disease of grapes, oleander leaf scorch, almond leaf scorch, alfalfa dwarf disease, citrus variegated chlorosis, phony peach disease, and probably a wide variety of scorch diseases of urban trees.

Not all of these disease are known to exist in California; however, Pierce's disease of grapes, oleander leaf scorch and almond leaf scorch do occur in the state. Currently the sharpshooter is distributed throughout the southern part of the state, and its distribution is spreading.

The glassy-winged sharpshooter has been implicated as the primary vector responsible for transmitting Pierce's disease through the Temecula winegrape growing area of Riverside County, California. The occurrence and spread of the glassy-winged sharpshooter within the state are now viewed as one of the most serious threats to California agriculture.

More information regarding GWSS can be obtained from:

UCR Glassy-winged sharpshooter resources

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