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 psyllid monitoring update of 2025 season

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By Tasha Stanzak
This is the final report of the 2025 potato psyllid / Lso monitoring season. Among the 11 psyllids captured last week, two tested positive for Lso, the bacterium associated with zebra chip disease (ZC). Overall captures have been remarkably similar for the last three years. About 10% of all psyllids tested positive for Lso this…

Psyllid captures decline overall, one new Lso-positive

Posted on
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By Tasha Stanzak
• This week we received traps from 21 fields that we are monitoring. Most fields have undergone vine kill and/or monitoring on them has otherwise ceased.• We captured a total of 11 psyllids across 3 fields.• Captures were from Canyon and Twin Falls counties.• Among the 17 psyllids captured last week, one tested positive for…

Psyllid captures still moderate, no new Lso

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By Erik Wenninger
Psyllid captures were on par with the low-to-moderate numbers that we saw during the past few years at this time. Thankfully all the psyllids from last week again tested negative for Lso; we haven’t had any Lso-positive psyllids since early August. This should have been the last week of reporting on psyllid captures, but the…

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