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 2026 season

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By Erik Wenninger
This is the final report of the 2026 potato psyllid / Lso monitoring season. Last week we provided a season wrap up, but we did not yet have the final results of Lso testing of the most recently captured potato psyllids. Thankfully, only 3 more psyllids tested positive: 2 from a site in Elmore County…

Season wrap up, part 1

Posted on
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By Erik Wenninger
Last week we reported on our last trapping week of the season. We had hoped to have Lso test results by today for psyllids captured last week; unfortunately delays in shipping inhibited our ability to do so, but we expect to have those results next week. However, we can still summarize what we’ve reported on…

Psyllid numbers stop climbing; eleven more Lso-positive psyllids

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By Tasha Stanzak
• This week we received traps from 40 of the 55 fields that we are monitoring; many fields have now undergone vine kill.• We captured a total of 199 psyllids spread across 20 fields.• Captures were from the following counties: Canyon, Owyhee, Elmore, Jerome, Twin Falls, Cassia, and Minidoka.• Of the 281 psyllids captured last…

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