A new sharpshooter threatens both crops and ornamentals

The glassy-winged sharpshooter (Homalodisca coagulata), an insect that has recently invaded California, and the smoke tree sharpshooter (Homalodisca lacerta) are creating serious new economic problems in both agricultural and ornamental plantings. The greatest threats surround their ability to spread the plant-pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which induces Pierce's disease in grapevines, almond leaf scorch disease, and a new disease known as oleander leaf scorch. Because of the potential distribution and large host range of the glassy-winged sharpshooter, other diseases caused by different strains of X. fastidiosa may have an even greater impact on the state's agricultural and ornamental landscape industries in the future.