California wine growers are sounding the alarm over the glassy-winged sharpshooter, an invasive insect recently discovered on grapevines sold at Costco stores across Northern California that poses a serious threat to vineyards and agriculture.“It attacks the vine and eventually kills it,” said wine grower Nello Olivo, who said his vineyard has dealt with destructive pests before.“We have a Mealybug issue here. It’s the same thing. Same issue. In other words, it’ll kill the vine if you let it grow,” Olivo said.The glassy-winged sharpshooter can spread Pierce’s disease, a bacterial infection that causes grapevines to yellow, dry out, shrivel and eventually die. Sacramento County agricultural officials said the invasive pest was found on grapevines and other Burchell Nursery plants sold at Costco stores between April 21 and May 21.The warning now spans multiple counties, including Sacramento, Yolo, Napa, Sonoma, Marin and Solano counties. Officials say the infested plants were shipped from a Fresno County nursery and could still be in customers’ homes or backyards.“If that infects Napa, for example, it’ll just kill all the vines. Then, at that point, they got to get rid of it. And the only thing they can do is tear it all up,” Olivo said.Sacramento County officials are urging anyone who purchased grapevines or Burchell Nursery plants during that timeframe not to plant, move or throw them away. Instead, residents are being asked to isolate the plants and contact their local agricultural commissioner’s office for inspection and removal. Officials said agricultural inspectors can respond the same day, and monitoring traps may also be placed nearby as a precaution.The Sacramento County Department of Agriculture said protecting the region’s vineyards remains a major concern because of the area’s large grape-growing industry.KCRA 3 has reached out to Costco for comment.To combat the spread, agricultural crews are using yellow sticky traps and other monitoring tools throughout vineyards to detect the pest early.For growers like Olivo, the concern is that the tiny insect could leave massive damage behind.“That would be devastating to the grape growers,” he said. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. —
California wine growers are sounding the alarm over the glassy-winged sharpshooter, an invasive insect recently discovered on grapevines sold at Costco stores across Northern California that poses a serious threat to vineyards and agriculture.
“It attacks the vine and eventually kills it,” said wine grower Nello Olivo, who said his vineyard has dealt with destructive pests before.
“We have a Mealybug issue here. It’s the same thing. Same issue. In other words, it’ll kill the vine if you let it grow,” Olivo said.
The glassy-winged sharpshooter can spread Pierce’s disease, a bacterial infection that causes grapevines to yellow, dry out, shrivel and eventually die. Sacramento County agricultural officials said the invasive pest was found on grapevines and other Burchell Nursery plants sold at Costco stores between April 21 and May 21.
The warning now spans multiple counties, including Sacramento, Yolo, Napa, Sonoma, Marin and Solano counties. Officials say the infested plants were shipped from a Fresno County nursery and could still be in customers’ homes or backyards.
“If that infects Napa, for example, it’ll just kill all the vines. Then, at that point, they got to get rid of it. And the only thing they can do is tear it all up,” Olivo said.
Sacramento County officials are urging anyone who purchased grapevines or Burchell Nursery plants during that timeframe not to plant, move or throw them away. Instead, residents are being asked to isolate the plants and contact their local agricultural commissioner’s office for inspection and removal. Officials said agricultural inspectors can respond the same day, and monitoring traps may also be placed nearby as a precaution.
The Sacramento County Department of Agriculture said protecting the region’s vineyards remains a major concern because of the area’s large grape-growing industry.
KCRA 3 has reached out to Costco for comment.
To combat the spread, agricultural crews are using yellow sticky traps and other monitoring tools throughout vineyards to detect the pest early.
For growers like Olivo, the concern is that the tiny insect could leave massive damage behind.
“That would be devastating to the grape growers,” he said.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google