It can consume 10 times its body weight in liquids per hour. Sharpshooters can acquire the bacterium from infected plants and transmit it to healthy plants while feeding. If the adult stage of the insect has the bacterium that causes Pierce's disease, the bacterium remains in its mouthparts throughout its life, which can last over 6 months. In some host plants, such as grape, the bacteria can spread systemically and cause disease. Once in the plant, the bacteria multiply and block the xylem, or water-conducting vessels of the plants.
Plants eventually develop symptoms of dry or scorched leaves, particularly in mid-summer.
Hence, the disease can spread rapidly. The glassy-winged sharpshooter has an extremely wide host plant range . Researchers at UCR have been working on the glassy-winged sharpshooter for several years. Researching potential use of physical barriers to prevent the glassy-winged sharpshooter from spreading. Investigating whether currently available pesticides will be effective in controlling sharpshooter populations.