Featured Story

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, is a tiny, mottled brown insect about the size of an aphid. This insect poses a serious threat to California's citrus trees because it vectors the pathogen that causes huanglongbing disease (HLB). This disease is the most serious threat to citrus trees worldwide—including those grown in home gardens and on farms. The psyllid feeds on all varieties of citrus (e.g., oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and mandarins) and several closely related ornamental plants in the family Rutaceae (e.g., calamondin, box orange, Indian curry leaf, and orange jessamine/orange jasmine).

Asian Citrus psyllid, invaded Florida in 2005, nearly devastating it's entire citrus industry. Then in 2012 it was discovered in California. It was eradicated however the next infected tree was found in 2015. In 2017, as sampling and detection methods improved researchers found 1135 more HLB positive trees. HLB moves very fast and spreads very rapidly. Unfortunately infected trees must be removed as systematic spraying does not do enough to suppress it.