Napa County Alerts on Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Infestation Threatening Vineyards
Napa County's agricultural commissioner has issued an urgent alert regarding the discovery of the glassy-winged sharpshooter insect on grapevines sold at Costco Wholesale. These grapevines, shipped from Burchell Nursery in Fresno County, were distributed across Napa, Sonoma, Marin, Solano, and Yolo counties. The glassy-winged sharpshooter is known to cause Pierce's disease, a bacterial infection that disrupts the water-conducting systems in plants, leading to their desiccation. The disease is incurable and poses a significant threat to local agriculture. Of the 220 grapevines delivered to Napa Costco, 63 have been destroyed after an egg mass was found, but 157 may still be in the possession of community members. The infestation could have severe implications for the local vineyard, winery, and tourism industries if not contained.