SHARPSHOOTERS/SPITTLEBUGBlue-green sharpshooter

Graphocephala atropunctataWillow sharpshooter

Graphocephala confluenceGreen sharpshooter

Draeculacephala minervaMeadow spittlebugPhilaenus spumarius

Red-headed sharpshooterXyphon fulgida

1/4 inch 1/4 inch 1/5 inch5/16 inch

Look-a-likeThamnotatettix zelleri

This insect can be confused with BGSS, however it is NOT a VECTOR

Blue-green sharpshooternymph

Glassy-winged sharpshooterHomalodisca vitripennis

Smoketree sharpshooterHomalodisca liturata

Authors: Lucia G. Varela, Rhonda J. Smith & Monica L. Cooper, UC Cooperative Extension. Photos: Jack K. Clark (except where noted). © May 10, 2016 by the Regents of the University of California

Nymph

Adult

1/2 inch

Smoketree sharpshooter head and back are covered with wavy, light colored lines while glassy-winged sharpshooter is stippled with yellow spots

Gary

McD

onal

d

Hind leg

Spittle conceals one to several spittlebug nymphs

Color variation in meadow spittlebug

~1/4 inch

Authors:LuciaG.Varela,RhondaJ.Smith&MonicaL.Cooper,UCCooperativeExtension©May10,2016bytheRegentsoftheUniversityofCalifornia

Pierce’s Disease Vectors, their Habitat and Monitoring Methods

VECTOR Blue-green

sharpshooter (BGSS)

Willow sharpshooter

(WSS)

Green sharpshooter

(GSS)

Red-headed sharpshooter

(RHSS)

Glassy-winged sharpshooter

(GWSS)

Meadow spittlebug2

(MSB) Numberof

generations/yearOneinCaliforniaNorthCoast

OneinCaliforniaNorthCoast Three Four Atleasttwo OneinCaliforniaNorth

CoastTransmissionEfficiency1

High High Low Medium Low Low

BreedingHabitats

Riparianareas,someornamental

landscapesRiparianareas Grassesinwetarea

Grassesinwetareas,buttoleratesdrier

conditions

Crops(primarilycitrus),riparianareas,ornamental

landscapes,nativewoodlands,weeds

Riparianareas,ornamentallandscapes,weedsin&adjacenttovineyard

BreedingHosts Woodyperennials Willows Sedges,watergrass,rye,fescue

Bermudagrass,semi-aquaticgrasses

Woodyperennials,herbaceousplants

Herbaceousplantsincludinggrasses

Occurrenceinbreedinghabitat Frequent Sporadictofrequent Frequent Sporadic Veryfrequent Frequent

Movementintovineyard Alongriparianedge Fromwillowsalong

riparianedgeAlongirrigated

pastures&ditches

Alongirrigatedpastures&ditches,onBermudagrassin&adjacenttovineyard

Widespread AdultsbeginemerginginApril

Monitoringmethods

YellowstickytrapsCheckvinesvisually

YellowstickytrapsCheckvinesvisually Sweepnet(notattractedtoyellow) Yellowstickytraps

BeatingtraysSweepnet

Checkvinesvisually

Whattolookfor

BeforebudbreakthroughMay:placeyellowstickytrapsatleast4x7”insizeattheedgeofthevineyardadjacenttoariparianzone,woodedareaorornamentallandscape

• Placetraps100to200feetapart• Checktrapsatleastonceaweekandrecord#ofBGSSandWSSadults.Donotcountlook-a-likes.Removesharpshootersaftercounting

• Replacetrapswhendirtyornolongersticky

Mid-AprilthroughJuly:• LookforBGSSnymphsintheirpreferredhostplantsattheedgeofthevineyardwithsweepnet.Emptycontentsofsweepnetintoaclearplasticbagforviewing

• VisuallyinspectwillowtreesforWSSnymphs

AprilthroughMay:samplelushgrasseswithsweepnet;emptycontentsofsweepnetintoaclearplasticbagforviewing

AprilthroughMay:sampleBermudagrasswithsweepnet;emptycontentsofsweepnetintoaclearplasticbagforviewing

• BeforebudbreakthroughNovember:placeyellowstickytrapsatleast5.5x9”attheedgeofthevineyardadjacenttoariparianzone,woodedareaorornamentallandscape

• Place1trapper10acres• Checktrapsonceaweek.IfyoususpectGWSS,contacttheAgricultureCommissioner’sofficeandUCCE

• Replacetrapswhendirtyornolongersticky

• MarchandApril:monitorvineyardweedsfornymphs;lookforfrothyfoam(spittlemasses)whichconcealthenymphs

• AprilthroughMay:samplegroundcoverforadultswithsweepnet;emptycontentsofsweepnetintoaclearplasticbagforviewing

1Transmissionefficiency=insect’sabilitytomovethebacteriumbetweenhosts.2Therolemeadowspittlebug,Philaenusspumarius,playsindiseasespreadisunknown.