by Maci Raney, Texas A&M Extension Service Intern
The glassy-winged sharpshooter, Scientific Name: Varies, Order: Homoptera, is a large leafhopper that obtains its nutrients by feeding on plant fluids in the water-conducting tissues of a plant (the xylem). Feeding on plants rarely causes significant plant damage, although the insects do excrete copious amounts of liquid that can make leaves and fruit appear whitewashed when dry. The excrement is a special nuisance when shade trees are heavily infested because cars parked under the trees tend to become spotted. During hot weather, heavy populations of glassy-winged sharpshooters feeding on small plants may cause them to wilt. The real problem associated with glassy-winged sharpshooter, however, is that it can spread the disease-causing bacterium Xylella fastidiosa from one plant to another. This bacterium is the causal agent of devastating plant diseases such as Pierce’s disease of grape, oleander leaf scorch, almond leaf scorch and mulberry leaf scorch.
Often noticeable on garden plants like okra, resting along stalks and “hiding” from viewers by quickly walking sideways around to the other side; produce minimal plant damage to most crops, although they are capable of transmitting plant diseases such as Pierce’s disease of commercial grape varieties, which prohibits the establishment of vineyards along coastal areas of Texas. They are medically harmless.
The life cycle: Eggs are inserted into host plant tissue (a slit cut into the petiole). Nymphs are whitish yellow develop through several stages (instars). Depending on species, several generations can occur per year.
The current strategy for containing the problem is to keep the insect out of new areas. If you find a sharpshooter, remove it immediately.
PESTICIDES FOR SUPPRESSION: (1) IMIDACLOPRID (2) PYRETHRIN + PIPERONYL BUTOXIDE (3) FENPROPATHRIN (4) ACETAMIPRID
Sources:
http://texasinsects.tamu.edu/aimg89.html
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7492.html