Identification
The Glasswing Sharpshooter is a large leafhopper, about 12-14 mm long. It has a dark brown body with a glassy, transparent wing appearance. The insect’s head is broad and slightly flattened, with large, reddish-brown eyes. It has six legs and long, slender antennae. Found in the southeastern United States, California, Mexico, and parts of Central America, it thrives in warm, humid environments.
Lifecycle & Reproduction
The life cycle includes egg, nymph, and adult stages. Females insert eggs into leaf tissue, where they hatch in 10-14 days. Nymphs undergo five instars over 30-40 days before reaching adulthood. Adults can live for several months and produce multiple generations per year in warm climates.
Habits, Diet & Behavior
Glasswing Sharpshooters feed on plant sap using their piercing-sucking mouthparts. They consume a wide variety of plants, including citrus, grapevines, and ornamental shrubs. Their feeding excretes large amounts of liquid waste, which can lead to sooty mold buildup. They are strong flyers and can travel long distances to find new host plants.
Where You’ll Find Them / Typical Locations
These pests inhabit agricultural fields, vineyards, gardens, and ornamental landscapes. They are often found on the undersides of leaves, where they feed and lay eggs. Their presence is more common in warm, humid climates.
Threats & Danger
The Glasswing Sharpshooter is a major vector of Pierce’s disease, a bacterial infection that severely affects grapevines, causing leaf scorch, reduced fruit yields, and vine death. They also spread other plant pathogens, making them a significant threat to agriculture. Their waste production can attract additional pests and lead to plant health deterioration.
Prevention
- Introduce natural predators like parasitic wasps and lacewings.
- Use reflective mulch to deter adult sharpshooters from landing on plants.
- Maintain proper plant care, including pruning and irrigation.
- Apply systemic insecticides to control large infestations.
- Monitor vineyards and citrus orchards for early signs of infestation.
Signs of Infestation
- Yellowing and curling of leaves.
- Presence of small, elongated egg masses on foliage.
- Excessive leaf moisture due to excreted waste.
- Sooty mold growth on plant surfaces.
- Increased sightings of flying insects near crops.
How to Get Rid of It
- Remove and destroy infested plant parts.
- Use insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils to reduce populations.
- Introduce biological control agents like Gonatocerus wasps.
- Apply targeted insecticides in heavily infested areas.
- Implement exclusion barriers like fine mesh screens in greenhouses.