Temecula Valley management program for the glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca vitripennis

In March of 2000 this program was implemented to manage the glassy-winged sharpshooter Homalodisca vitripennis, the primary vector of Pierce’s disease Xylella fastidiosa of grapes Vitis vinifera in the Temecula valley of Riverside County California. In the Temecula valley there are approximately 2,000 acres of wine grapes in close proximity to roughly 1,000 acres of citrus, making the grapes particularly vulnerable to Pierce’s disease. This is due to citrus being an important year around reproductive host of the vector, and also one that can harbor glassy-winged sharpshooter populations over the winter months during the time that grapes and many ornamental hosts are dormant. In the Temecula valley, the wine grape industry and its associated tourist industry generate approximately 100 million dollars in revenue for the economy of the area. After the glassy-winged sharpshooter arrived in the Temecula valley, Pierce’s disease caused a 40% vineyard loss and almost destroyed the associated tourist industry. The program developed to deal with this problem involves pesticide treatments, trapping, visual inspections, and weekly updates of the glassy-winged sharpshooter situation to the various orchard and vineyard managers. The Temecula valley management program for the glassy-winged sharpshooter saved the vineyard and associated industries in Temecula from being rendered commercially unfeasible; and its maintenance is necessary in order to keep the vineyards in Temecula economically viable.