Thus, completion of these two broad goals will advance significantly our ability to identify areas within the state that are most likely to successfully support populations of GWSS should they become established (and thus allow a concentration of those financial and human resources that are available for vector suppression), while simultaneously providing approaches to limit the spread of this insect to those areas of the state and country that are at risk for outbreaks of Xylella diseases. Even with climate and weather-based models, it is not known with any degree of accuracy to where GWSS will spread and potentially thrive with certainty within California, nor are there long-term suitable GWSS/PD management strategies available to reliably and consistently prevent the spread of this insect by movement of nursery products. Second, I will complete the construction of degree-day developmental models and developmental threshold data to be used for the creation of environmental and niche-based predictive models estimating where in California that GWSS can and cannot survive should it be introduced to those areas. This latter area of research has been the main focus of this project for the last five years as developing a shipping protocol that allowed nursery shipments to go forth without costly inspections was the most pressing need. Goals / Objectives This project will continue to focus on three areas related to GWSS management and control First, I will continue to develop, evaluate and deploy techniques to minimize sharpshooter densities within commercial landscape nurseries and prevent their movement to un-infested areas of the state and country. Thus a main objective of this research is to continue to seek approaches and treatments to dis-infest nursery shipments of all stages of the glassy-winged sharpshooter. Unfortunately this program is entirely reliant on two chemical insecticides, one of which is likely to be phased out in the next few years. As of this date, research from this project has led to an approved state-wide approved treatment program that allows transport of nursery shipments without inspections. This is due to the extremely costly intra- and inter-state quarantine measures restricting movement of nursery products from the sharpshooter-infested southern portions of the state where much of Californias ornamental nursery production is located. The agricultural sector most heavily impacted by this insect has been the commercial nursery industry. The development of such a model will allow a concentration of limited resources for management and control to those areas most likely at risk of infestation.
No predictive modeling based on actual insect life history requirements has been performed to determine the geographical and environmental limits for this insect. Within the state, exactly where this species can survive and reproduce is unknown. Non Technical Summary The invasive glassy-winged sharpshooter has been associated (as a vector) with serious outbreaks of oleander leaf scorch and Pierces disease of grapes in southern and central California.