| The Glassy Winged Sharpshooter is a serious | | | | gaining access to the bacteria and causing even |
| threat to wine growers throughout California | | | | further destruction. |
| because of its ability to destroy crops at ease. | | | | This species reproduces by laying ten to twelve |
| This species is rather large for a leafhopper at a | | | | eggs on the undersides of plants and covering |
| half an inch long and is colored dark brown to | | | | them with a fine white powery substance. Once |
| black with a yellow or white underside; it can also | | | | these eggs hatch the offspring pass through |
| be easily identified by its bright yellow catlike eyes | | | | several molting cycles before reaching full |
| and transparent wings (which actually appear | | | | adulthood, and more often than not several will |
| brown except when extended). It is such a | | | | have already come into contact with the dead |
| nuisance to farmers because of its ability to carry | | | | bacteria that causes such crop destruction. An |
| disease from one plant to another throughout a | | | | interesting fact is that not all of this species will |
| series of crops, effectively killing all of them. All it | | | | carry the dangerous bacteria, which both puzzles |
| needs to do so is to come into contact with the | | | | and frustrates scientists as they search for a |
| Xylella fastidiosa bacteria once from an unhealthy | | | | more definitive answer. |
| plant and it will continue to spread the sickness | | | | Control of the Glassy Winged Sharpshooter is far |
| throughout its lifetime. This species is also a prolific | | | | from an easy task, and the US Department of |
| breeder, making it very difficult to control the | | | | Agriculture relies heavily on farmers to monitor |
| spread of this species that does an estimated | | | | their crops for this insect and signs of their |
| fifty-two million dollars of annual damage to | | | | presence. The easiest way to spot this species |
| California's crops and plant life. | | | | presence is to search the crop for either eggs on |
| The Glassy Winged Sharpshooter can feed off of | | | | the underside of plants or the white residue left |
| over seventy different species of plants, but | | | | after feeding. It is helpful to note that parasitic |
| research shows that it may be impartial to | | | | wasps are being used to seek out and destroy |
| grapes, citrus, stone fruit, almond, and oleanders. | | | | the eggs of this species, and a number of |
| This species mouth contains needle like suckers | | | | pesticides have shown promise if this |
| that collects plant matter for consumption, | | | | sharpshooter is found within early stages of |
| including dangerous bacteria that may reside on or | | | | infestation. If there is any evidence that the |
| inside the plant. Once in its mouth the bacteria will | | | | Glassy Winged Sharpshooter has spread into your |
| be harvested into a more concentrated form and | | | | area, it is absolutely crucial to contact a pest |
| deposited within the next plant it feeds from. Not | | | | control expert or your local agricultural commission |
| only does this endanger the second plant and any | | | | immediately. Any delay in doing so not only places |
| future plants the sharpshooter may consume, but | | | | your crops and plants at risk but endangers your |
| it also increases the chances of its offspring also | | | | entire county's agricultural resources. |