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

Psyllid captures increase – 24 July 2025 update

Posted on
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By Tasha Stanzak
• This week we received traps from 48 fields that we are monitoring.• We captured a total of 38 psyllids across 13 fields.• Captures were from the following counties: Payette, Canyon, Jerome, Gooding, and Twin Falls.• Among the 13 psyllids captured last week, none tested positive for Lso. Psyllid captures this week ticked up from…

Psyllid captures still low; one Lso-positive psyllid from last week

Posted on
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By Erik Wenninger
Psyllid captures this week were similar to the relatively low captures during this period in the last 2-3 seasons. With relatively low psyllid captures and only two Lso-positive psyllids detected so far, ZC risk appears to be relatively low this year. That could change as the season progresses and temperatures rise, so stay tuned.

Psyllid captures still low; no new Lso-positives

Posted on
|
By Tasha Stanzak
• This week we received traps from 47 fields that we are monitoring.• We captured a total of 9 psyllids spread across 8 fields.• Captures were from the following counties: Payette, Canyon, Jerome, Gooding, and Twin Falls.• The 3 psyllids captured last week all tested negative for Lso.• For psyllids captured this week, we expect…

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