California Finds Sharpshooter Pest at Costco Vines, With 550 Plants Still Unaccounted For
Updated
Updated · The Santa Rosa Press Democrat · May 26
California Finds Sharpshooter Pest at Costco Vines, With 550 Plants Still Unaccounted For
10 articles · Updated · The Santa Rosa Press Democrat · May 26
550 grapevines shipped from Burchell Nursery remain unaccounted for after inspectors found glassy-winged sharpshooters at Costco outlets in Sonoma and Napa counties.
Inspectors identified the pest in multiple life stages — egg masses, nymphs and adults — on vines sent from a Fresno-area infestation zone without the required hold notice for local inspection.
Sonoma received 634 plants and destroyed 241, while Napa got 220 and destroyed 63; Marin, Mendocino and Solano Costcos also received suspect shipments.
Costco has alerted members who bought staked grapevines between April 21 and May 21 and is helping counties trace purchases, while officials urge buyers to isolate plants and contact agricultural offices.
The sharpshooter spreads Pierce’s disease, a potentially fatal threat to grapevines, raising alarm in Napa and Sonoma wine country over a breach growers say could quickly reestablish the pest.
If a tiny wasp can control this pest, why is Northern California's wine country now facing a devastating outbreak?
Is a single nursery's mistake proof that California's entire agricultural protection system is broken?
With hundreds of 'ticking time bomb' plants missing, can a widespread agricultural disaster still be avoided?
Unaccounted Grapevines Spark Statewide Emergency: Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Infestation Threatens $110 Million California Wine Industry
Overview
In May 2026, Northern California faced an urgent agricultural crisis when the highly destructive glassy-winged sharpshooter was detected on grapevines sold through Costco stores across several counties. This discovery, first reported by the Santa Rosa Costco and confirmed by Sonoma County staff, quickly escalated as more infested plants were found. The situation posed a serious threat to the region’s vineyards, prompting rapid action from agricultural authorities and a public call to help locate unaccounted grapevines. The widespread distribution of these infested plants created a challenging scenario for tracking and containing the pest’s potential impact.