Species Homalodisca vitripennis - Glassy-winged Sharpshooter

Homalodisca coagulata (Say 1832)

Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar 1821)

11-14 mm

Flattened head and "glassy" wing patches, and head with pale spots on dark ground. Separated from the smoke-tree sharpshooter as shown here.

s. US (TX-FL-VA, AR) & Mex.(1), introduced in sw. US (CA-AZ) (BG data)

A major vector of Pierce's disease on grape. Usually not a serious pest within its native range, southeastern US. This species was accidentally introduced into so. California in the early 1990s, probably with ornamental or agricultural stock. There, it has become a serious threat to viticulture.(2)

The biggest problem is that it can spread the disease-causing bacterium Xylella fastidiosa.

The most important biocontrols are egg-parasite wasps in the genus Gonatocerus. Spiders, assassin bugs, and praying mantis prey on the mobile forms.

Homalodisca liturata. Its is covered with wavy, light-colored lines, rather than spots.

Takiya D.M., McKamey S.H., Cavichiloi R.R. (2006) Validity of Homalodisca and of H. vitripennis as the name for glassy-winged sharpshooter (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 99: 648-655 (Full text)

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