MORE GLASSY-WINGED SHARPSHOOTERS DISCOVERED IN CENTRAL AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

SACRAMENTO - Pest survey crews are now working in some new areas following the discovery of glassy-winged sharpshooters in San Joaquin, Madera and Alameda Counties.

In San Joaquin County, several more adult glassy-winged sharpshooters were discovered at a nursery 11 miles east of Lodi, the same nursery where a single insect was found three weeks ago. The San Joaquin Agricultural Commissioner's office is tracing nursery shipments back to Southern California, and is considering ordering the nursery to conduct treatment on its property. Thorough surveying in San Joaquin County continues, with a 10-person crew from the California Conservation Corps (CCC) now providing assistance.

In Madera County, a resident found an adult glassy-winged sharpshooter in her garden near the Fresno County line. Since then, surveyors have found at least one other adult and two nymphs, juvenile sharpshooters, in the same area. A 15-member crew from the CCC is on hand there to assist teams from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Madera and Fresno Counties.

In Alameda County, a number of glassy-winged sharpshooter nymphs were discovered during a survey at a nursery in Sunol. The nursery is treating the plants involved, and surveying in that area continues.

The glassy-winged sharpshooter is a carrier of Pierce's Disease, which infects and kills grapevines and other plants. Counties known to be infested with the sharpshooter include Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Ventura, Orange, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Kern and Tulare.

Earlier this month, Governor Gray Davis signed legislation providing $6.9 million in the fight against the glassy-winged sharpshooter. An additional $6.9 million is anticipated in the budget for the 2000-'01 fiscal year. Also, the Governor has aggressively pursued federal assistance, leading to the passage of a bill in Congress last week that would provide another $7.14 million.

The Governor has also asked U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman to make additional emergency funds available.

 
For more information, visit the CDFA's glassy-winged sharpshooter web page at www.cdfa.ca.gov/gwss.