What plants does the sharpshooter damage?
GWSS feed on a wide variety of plants with little noticeable damage. As mentioned above, GWSS are capable of transmitting Xylella bacterial diseases that are usually fatal to susceptible species of plants. Currently, plants at immediate risk to these diseases include commercial grapes (wine, table grape, raisons), almonds, oleander and to a lesser extent alfalfa. Certain strains of Xylella can also seriously affect citrus (citrus variegated chlorosis) and stone fruits (phony peach disease). At this time, the strains of Xylella causing these latter diseases are not known to occur in California.
