‘Squirrelbug’ is another name sometimes used for these insects, because of their habit of scurrying to the opposite side of a plant stem when approached. Because of its low sugar content, this liquid is not sticky like the honeydew produced by aphids and does not usually cause sooty mold. Where does all this excess liquid go? Look out below! This is where sharpshooters get their name they forcibly eject large droplets of liquid, sometimes referred to as ‘bug dew’. They have a highly adapted digestive system that allows them to filter out nutrients and excrete the remaining liquid. With dominoes you line ‘um up and blow ‘um down with plants it’s-xylem up and phloem down.Īs xylem feeders, sharpshooters must consume a lot of sap to get the nutrition they need, and many sharpshooters consume, and excrete, several hundred times their body weight in liquids daily! One species was recorded to excrete as much as 430X its body volume in liquid per day. Botany instructors often teach students to just think of dominoes. Xylem tissue transports water and minerals from roots to the upper parts of the plant. Phloem tissue transports sap that is rich in sugars and amino acids from leaves to other parts of the plant, including roots. Unlike aphids and whiteflies, which feed on phloem sap, sharpshooters feed on xylem fluid, which has a much lower concentration of sugars and other nutrients. Like their relatives, aphids and whiteflies, sharpshooters feed by sucking plant sap. 'We are thrilled to be a part of this project.Ever walked under a crape myrtle tree and felt raindrops on a bright, sunny day? That’s probably not raindrops, it’s sharpshooter “dew.” Sharpshooters are large leafhoppers, up to ½ inch long, and there are several species. “The pest control that we perform everyday plays an important part in public health but this project also protects one of California's signature resources,' he said. Steed added that it’s been gratifying for him and his team to be involved in these eradication efforts. To date, Steed said Neighborly has treated about 60 homes.ĭuring the next two months, King said, the Solano County Department of Agriculture will continue to monitor the treated areas and continue public outreach efforts to raise homeowner awareness about the glassy-winged sharpshooter. “We’ve been treating 15-30 homes per days,” said Steed, who added that ag department officials are on site to witness the application. Prior to the application, the county will notify residents, and Steed said the goal is to treat homes where “finds” have been confirmed, as well as adjacent properties. Right now, it is fall (in California) so we have to be careful with wind, but we are treating any host material that we can,” Steed said. Neighborly Owner Jim Steed said for this year’s treatment his company performed foliar treatments using Tempo Ultra SC. Neighborly had experience with the glassy-winged sharpshooter, having done this work the last time they were found in Solano County in 2004. Once this is accomplished, the next step is eradication efforts.Īfter a formal bid process, the county selected Neighborly Pest Management, Sacramento, Calif. King said the first part of the Pierce’s disease control program is to saturate these residential properties with sticky traps to limit the extent of the infestation. The glassy-winged sharpshooter thrives on most landscaping plants and vegetation (e.g., citrus, jasmine and crape myrtle trees) so the concern is that they will become established on residential properties and then spread to nearby vineyards.

Glassy winged sharpshooter