Asian citrus psyllid

About

The Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina citri, is a hemipteran insect that consumes sap from citrus trees. It is known to be devastating to trees as it carries the bacteria that causes citrus huanglongbing (HLB), known as Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus.

Biology

Asian Citrus Psyllids are tiny brown insects. They measure only about 3 mm in length or about the size of a normal aphid.

Adult psyllids live only about one to two months. Female psyllids can lay up to several hundred eggs during their lifetime.

These insects are also carriers of the bacteria Candidatus Liberbacter asiaticus, known to cause HLB, otherwise known as citrus greening disease.

Preferred Host

Asian Citrus Psyllids prefer citrus trees. These include Chinese box-orange, curry leaf, finger-lime, grapefruit, key lime, kumquat, lemon, lime, lime berry, mandarin orange, mock orange, orange, orange jasmine, pomelo, sour orange, sweet orange, tangerine, and trifoliate orange.

What to Watch For

Look out for any small grey-brown insects or droppings. Fruit will turn bitter if infected. Look out for oddly shaped bitter fruit that is hard.

If infected with HLB, check to see if any ripe fruit remains green.

Be on the watch for leaves that look twisted or have burned tips. Leaves may also have uneven, blotchy mottling on them. Twigs may also dieback.

Economic Impacts

Asian Citrus Psyllids originated in southeast Asia and were first found in Florida in 2005. Since then, they have spread to Alabama, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The insects have seen the largest impact in Florida and California. Florida has seen a 74% decrease in citrus production since 2002 due to both Asian Citrus Psyllids and HLB. California estimates annual losses of $224 million.