Potato Psyllid / Zebra Chip Monitoring

adult psyllid
yellow sticky trap

Description

University of Idaho in collaboration with numerous crop consultants across the state conducts a potato psyllid monitoring program funded in part by the Idaho Potato Commission. Potato psyllids are sampled weekly in commercial potato fields across the state using yellow sticky traps. Adult psyllids are counted and tested for the presence of the zebra chip bacterium.

The bacterium associated with zebra chip disease (ZC) produces necrotic flecking in the flesh of the tuber that become more pronounced when tubers are fried. ZC is primarily managed with insecticide applications targeting potato psyllids. Our monitoring program provides stakeholders with information to guide these application decisions.

Impacted Crops

Potato

potato chips

Who is Involved

Researchers at U of I and the Kimberly Research and Extension Center, including:
Erik Wenninger, Professor, University of Idaho
Alexander Karasev, Professor, University of Idaho
Tasha Stanzak, Senior Research Associate
Samuel DeGrey, Research Associate
Nora Olsen, Professor, University of Idaho

Contact

ERIK WENNINGER
Professor of Entomology and Extension Specialist
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology
University of Idaho, Kimberly
Ph. (208) 423-6677 | erikw@uidaho.edu

final report of the 2024 potato psyllid / Lso monitoring season

Posted on
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By Tasha Stanzak
This is the final report of the 2024 potato psyllid / Lso monitoring season. One psyllid from last week’s samples tested positive for Lso, the bacterium associated with zebra chip disease (ZC). About 4% of all psyllids tested positive for Lso this year compared to about 6% last year and around 1% in most recent…

Psyllid captures increase a bit; no new Lso positives

Posted on
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By Tasha Stanzak
• This week we received traps from 52 of the 58 fields that we are monitoring.• We captured a total of 40 psyllids across 11 fields.• Captures were from the following counties: Payette, Canyon, Owyhee, Elmore, and Twin Falls.• None of the psyllids collected last week tested positive for Lso. Psyllid captures increased this week…

Psyllid captures still low; one new Lso positive

Posted on
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By Erik Wenninger
Psyllid captures continue to be relatively low overall—slightly lower than last week and similar to the low captures we saw over the last two years at this time. We did find another Lso-positive psyllid last week so—despite the low captures—we are seeing some positives, which may slightly elevate the risk of ZC. A psyllid from…

Psyllid Map: Southern Idaho

The map below shows the average number of pysllids per trap (sticky card) by county for a given week. Click on a county for details.

Year

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Click a county on the map to see a chart of weekly county values for the year, or select from the following list.

 

Regional Psyllid Comparison

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Psyllids by County/Region

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Annual Comparison by Week