Several counties across Northern California are urging residents not to plant recently purchased grapevines after a destructive invasive insect was found in shipments sold at Costco stores.
Officials said the glassy-winged sharpshooter, a non-native pest, has been detected on grape plants shipped from Burchell Nursery’s location in Fresno County to Costco stores.
In its advisory, Marin County officials said that glassy-winged sharpshooter nymphs were found in two samples taken during a recent inspection. The samples were confirmed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, said Marin Agricultural Commissioner Joe Deviney.
In Sacramento County, Costco Wholesale locations received multiple shipments of grapevines from Burchell Nursery between April 21 and May 21, according to the Sacramento County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office.
All life stages of the glassy-winged sharpshooter were found on these shipments across multiple counties, including Sacramento, Sonoma, Marin, Solano, and Yolo, according to the Sacramento County officials.
A total of 160 grapevines delivered to Sacramento Costco stores have been destroyed, while several glassy-winged sharpshooter life stages were detected by the Sacramento County agricultural department inspectors.
Hundreds of grapevines are unaccounted for and are expected to be bought by community members from Costco stores, according to the Sacramento County officials.
County officials said Costco has been contacting its customers who purchased the plants within the specified timeframe.
In Sonoma County, the invasive pest was found on shipments delivered to Costco stores in Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park.
In Napa County, which is renowned for its vineyards, 63 of the 220 grapevines delivered to the Napa Costco were destroyed, and one glassy-winged sharpshooter egg mass was found, according to county Supervisor Anne Cottrell.
According to Marin County officials, the shipping nursery is required by state quarantine laws to notify the county office before shipping the plants, but the nursery failed to do so.
“All the counties affected are responding with enforcement actions and seizing and destroying the infested plants,” said Deviney.
Stating that the pest infestation was not Costco’s fault, Deviney said the retailer has been an “exceptional partner” throughout the process.
Marin County officials have inspected all grape plants from previous Costco shipments, along with nearby and commingled plants. Staff have been ramping up trapping efforts at the site.
What Can Residents Do?
Community members who purchased plants at Costco stores since April 21 are advised to do the following:
- Keep the plants isolated in their original containers. Do not plant them or return them to stores.
- For grapevines: Place two garbage bags over the plants and secure them tightly.
- For citrus plants: Contact the county agriculture department for inspection.
- Do not dump plants in the trash or compost bin.
What is a Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter?
The glassy-winged sharpshooter is a destructive leafhopper that sucks the fluids out of plants, wreaking havoc in agricultural regions, particularly in California vineyards.
Native to the southeastern part of the country, the insects became established in California in the 1990s, jeopardizing the state’s grape industry, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
These pests feed by sucking the fluids out of plants.
Thriving in abundant sunshine and a mild climate, glassy-winged sharpshooters are known to feed on grapevines and spread harmful bacteria that cause Pierce’s disease. Pierce’s disease affects grape quality and fruit production, eventually killing the plants.
In addition to grapevines, glassy-winged sharpshooters feed on citrus and almond plants.
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