More Asian Citrus Psyllid Finds In California’s Citrus Belt

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The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) reported unfortunate news this week, according to California Citrus Mutual (CCM), that additional Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) finds have been detected in the San Joaquin Valley, in a residential backyard in the city of Wasco and in Dinuba.

CDFA and county officials are currently executing delimitation surveys in both areas and will begin treatment in the immediate 800-meter radius surrounding the finds once delimitation in complete. In Wasco, a single adult male psyllid was found on a trap. So far, no additional psyllids have been detected, alive or on traps, and surveys are rendering that there in not a breeding population in that area. There is no commercial citrus within the proposed five-mile quarantine area.

Unfortunately, the situation in Dinuba is grave, CCM reports. Numerous psyllids of various life stages were found in three trees of neighboring homes within the city limits of Dinuba, signaling that a breeding population is present. The homeowners have been extremely cooperative and each tree was sprayed on Tuesday afternoon.

CDFA has determined via interviews with the homeowners that two of the infested trees (young mandarin trees) were removed from a commercial grove in Sanger for wind machine replacement and given to the homeowners. The grove was immediately checked, but so far, no finds have occurred. CDFA continues to closely monitor the grove.

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“The fact that all stages were found and the trees were young, suggests that the trees could have been infested when they were planted and the trees possibly came from outside the San Joaquin Valley or the infestation got started near these young trees a while ago (this is being investigated),” said Beth Grafton-Cardwell, University of California Integrated Pest Management specialist, on her blog.

While CDFA has not yet announced the quarantine boundaries for either find, the Dinuba find will have a greater impact on commercial growers in both Fresno and Tulare counties. Commercial and residential treatments in Dinuba have been initiated. CCM will continue to disseminate information as it becomes available. In the meantime, contact your county grower liaison about necessary action steps for your area. Also be advised that CDFA will call a grower meeting in Tulare County within the next two weeks when the quarantine has been established.

In light of each of these finds, it is imperative that quarantine restrictions be adhered to. Moving plant material out of a quarantined area to a non-quarantined area is a primary vehicle for spreading the Asian Citrus Psyllid, putting all citrus at risk for HLB.  On August 29, Kern County inspectors found 26 citrus trees with yellow ACP quarantine tags (Kern County is outside the current ACP quarantine). The county destroyed all 26 trees and issued a “Notice of Rejection” to the shipper.

Moving any citrus plant material out of a quarantined area is an immediate violation of the ACP Quarantine regulations. In this case, the nursery in violation was a Los Angeles nursery, San Antonio Nursery. CDFA immediately suspended the nursery’s compliance agreements and is currently following up on the company’s shipping records for the last 60 days. Additionally, 39 assorted citrus plants at the nursery were placed on hold.

Again, it is critical that all parties adhere to quarantine restrictions. Moving citrus plant material out of quarantine zones places the entire citrus industry and all backyard citrus at risk of HLB by spreading the Asian Citrus Psyllid.

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