Two species of insects are wreaking havoc in Glendora and officials seek the public's help in identifying and reducing their spread.
The Glassy Winged Sharpshooter and the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer are reportedly inflicting damage to plants and trees in town, with the Sharpshooter having been identified on as many as 26 different plants and trees, officials said in the latest edition of Glendora Report.
The Sharpshooter, which has been in Los Angeles County for several decades, spreads diseases to a wide variety of plants, including oleanders, almond plants and grapes, which are greatly affected by Pierce's disease, said Gevork Arakelian, senior biologist with the County of Los Angeles Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures.
The ACWM is the county agency tasked with keeping the Sharpshooter, Borer and countless other invasive species from spreading.
An intra-county quarantine is in effect for nurseries in Los Angeles County to combat the Sharpshooter's spread. Officials are working hard to prevent the insect from spreading into northern counties.
"Our concern mainly is for Pierce's disease, because it affects the wine industry," Arakelian said.
While both insects are difficult to spot, the Shot Hole Borer is even more difficult to detect due to its small size, officials said. The Borer females can range in size from .07 to .1 inches in length, while males are about .05 inches, officials said.
There is currently no quarantine method for the Borer, which has been in Southern California for roughly a decade. The Borer's unique biology has proved difficult for officials to keep under control, Arakelian said.
Both insects can be detected by the damage they create. The Sharpshooter causes plant leaves to appear either very dry, or burned. The Borer lays its larvae inside a tree by literally boring a hole in the bark with a dark stain surrounding the hole, officials said.
Residents who spots these insects or their potential damage are being asked to notify Glendora officials by calling the city's Parks/Tree Division at (626) 852-4869, or by calling Parks/Community Services Manager Michael Wallich at (626) 610-5516.
In addition to notifying Glendora officials, the ACWM offers residents throughout the county a way to send in possibly-infected plants, or insect specimens to be analyzed through their website.
