If you bought a desert willow plant at Costco from June 24 through July 3, you may have gone home with a few free items, namely, the broad-headed sharpshooter and the glassy-winged sharpshooter, invasive pests that the county of San Diego is now issuing warnings about.
The plants, according to the county, were shipped from a nursery in Texas and distributed to Costco warehouses throughout California, including seven locations in San Diego County.
The insects can cause Pierce’s disease, which has led to millions of dollars in losses for the state’s wine industry.
While California has looked to manage the already-present glassy-winged sharpshooter, the broad-headed sharpshooter is not known to be in the state until now. The introduction could spell trouble for vineyards, orchards and home gardens.
San Diego County is urging customers to contact the department for guidance, even if Costco has not reached out to them directly.
What you should do:
- If the plant has not been planted:
Double-bag the plant (one trash bag inside another), seal both bags and place them in your regular trash.
Do not place it in green waste, return it to the store, or transport or relocate it.
- If the plant has already been planted:
County agricultural inspectors will visit to inspect the plant for any life stages of the broad-headed sharpshooter and advise on next steps.
County agricultural officials have inspected Desert Willow plants at local Costco warehouses; however, approximately 200 plants sold in San Diego County are still unaccounted for.
The county says Costco is notifying customers who purchased the plants.
