Potential vectors of grapevine red blotch virus
Currently, the only known vector of grapevine red blotch virus (Grablovirus vitis, GRBV – EPPO A1 List) is Spissistilus festinus (Hemiptera: Membracidae). However, this species is not present in some highly infected vineyards, which suggests that other vector species are involved.
Two recent articles report potential vectors of GRBV:
During a survey conducted in 2018-2019 in Oregon (USA) in a GRBV-infected vineyard the leafhoppers Euscelidius variegatus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and Dikraneura absenta (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) as well as a Nothodelphax sp. tested positive for GRBV and transmission tests showed that they can transmit the virus.
A survey conducted in 2023-2024 in Baja California (Mexico) showed that Tortistilus wickhami (Hemiptera: Membracidae) can acquire the virus in the field and laboratory settings. However, no transmission to recipient plants occurred in transmission tests.
T. wickhami is widely distributed across North America, it was previously known to occur from Canada to South California and was first reported in Baja California (Mexico) in 2023.
Sources
Ford-Villalón C, Schneider D, Montesinos-Solano I, Carrillo-Tripp J (2026) Potential transmission of grapevine red blotch virus (Grablovirus vitis, Geminiviridae) by Nearctic treehopper (Tortistilus wickhami) in Baja California, Mexico. Revista mexicana de fitopatología 44(2). https://doi.org/10.18781/r.mex.fit.2512-4
Schneider D, Ford-Villalón C, Acosta-Ramos K, Carrillo-Tripp J, Monjarás-Barrera JI, Ceccarelli FS (2025) First record of Tortistilus wickhami (Van Duzee, 1908)(Hemiptera: Membracidae) in Vineyards of Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, Mexico. Psyche: A Journal of Entomology 2025, 8375004. https://doi.org/10.1155/psyc/8375004
Lee JC, Keller K, Lake AJ, Soule ML, Martin RR (2026) Surveying for potential grapevine red blotch virus vectors in an Oregon vineyard. Journal of Economic Entomology 119(3), 1639-1645.