News Releases

Another Blow: Deadly Citrus Pest Found In Los Angeles County

VISALIA, CALIF. – Aug. 26, 2009 – Days after the discovery of Asian citrus psyllids on a yellow trap in Santa Ana, Calif., the pest is found in yet anther Southern California location – Echo Park in Los Angeles County.

The Asian citrus psyllid – an aphid-like insect that feeds on the leaves of citrus trees and other citrus-like plants – can be a carrier of a fatal citrus tree disease, Huanglongbing, also known as HLB or citrus greening disease.  While not harmful to human health, HLB destroys production, appearance and value of citrus trees, and the taste of their fruit and juice.  Once a tree is infected with the disease, there is no cure and the tree will eventually die.  It has been called a “death sentence” for California citrus.

Thus far, psyllids found in southern California trees – including those in Orange County, which were confirmed negative today – are not carrying the disease. The Los Angeles-area discovery was of one adult psyllid in a yellow trap in a homeower’s citrus tree. The psyllid is being tested for HLB and has prompted the California Department of Food and Agriculture to set an additional 100 traps within a square mile of where the psyllid was found, and 50 traps in each of the eight surrounding square miles.

“Unfortunately, the discovery of the Asian citrus psyllid in Los Angeles exemplifies the severity of what we’re up against – this pest can travel, and it can do so quickly and relatively easily,” said Ted Batkin, president of the California Citrus Research Board. “Controlling the pest will not be easy, but it can be done, and we need help from the community to inspect their trees and report the pest in order to protect not only the citrus industry in California, but also the ability of homeowners to grow citrus in their backyards.”

Los Angeles and Orange counties join San Diego and Imperial counties as among those where psyllids have been found in California. San Diego and Imperial counties are currently under quarantine. The quarantine is expected to extend to portions of Orange and Los Angeles counties when the extent of those infestations is known.

The pest and the disease have already caused devastation in Asia, India, parts of the Middle East, and South and Central America.  The pest and the disease have been found domestically in Louisiana, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.  In Florida, the psyllid and HLB are ravaging the citrus industry, destroying acres of trees and putting the state’s $9.3 billion citrus industry at risk.  The insect pest, in the absence of disease, is also found in Hawaii, Texas and California.  While psyllids found in southern California thus far do not have the disease, officials warn it is only a matter of time as the disease migrates toward California.

The Los Angeles and Orange county discoveries follow last week’s confirmation that HLB had been found in six citrus trees in El Cuyo, Mexico, which is located on the Yucatan peninsula and near the city of Merida.  Merida, located several hundred miles north of the country of Belize, is the site where a positive HLB psyllid was found in early July.  At a U.S.-Mexico summit in late June, where scientists, industry leaders and regulators discussed collaborative efforts, attendees learned HLB had also been discovered in Belize.

For more information and to find out what to look for, visit www.CaliforniaCitrusThreat.org. If you think you have found a psyllid, act fast. Time is critical. Call the California Department of Food and Agriculture hotline at 800-491-1899.