Dangerous Citrus Pest Discovered in Mar Vista

Mar Vista homeowners are being urged to inspect their gardens for a dangerous pest that can kill their citrus trees.

Katie Rowland of the Citrus Pest Disease and Prevention Program contacted Mar Vista Patch to tell homeowners to be on the lookout for the Asian citrus psyllid.

According to the California Department for Food and Agriculture, the Asian citrus psyllid has been found in Imperial, San Diego, Orange, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties, sparking quarantines in each of the areas.

The Asian citrus psyllid can carry a fatal tree disease, called Huanglongbing, also known as HLB or citrus greening disease. HLB destroys the taste of citrus fruit and juice, along with the production, appearance and value of citrus trees. Once a tree is infected with the disease there is no cure and the tree will eventually die.

To date, none of the psyllids in California have been found to carry the disease and the psyllid is not dangerous to humans. However, the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program is reminding homeowners to remain vigilant nonetheless.

“The best way to protect Mar Vista’s backyard citrus is to inspect for the pest,” Ted Batkin, representative of the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program said in a statement. “We want to encourage homeowners to do their part and inspect for the pest before it’s too late.”

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is currently undertaking efforts to treat the pest in Mar Vista and surrounding areas in Los Angeles. Residents may be asked to allow a yellow sticky trap to be placed in their trees or for their trees to be treated for the pest.

“By cooperating to allow a trap to be placed on a tree or allow for treating of psyllids, residents are helping to not only protect their backyard citrus trees from a disease that kills trees, but they are also helping protect their neighbors’ trees,” said Batkin. “Because this pest can travel easily, it’s important that the entire community step up to fight against this pest.”

 The Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program is offering the following tips to California homeowners:

• Inspect your citrus trees each month or whenever watering, spraying, pruning or tending trees. It is especially important to inspect during active growth or flushing.
• Plant only certified, disease-free trees from reputable nurseries.
• Do not bring any plant material into California from other states or countries and don't move citrus plants out of quarantined areas, because they might be carrying psyllids.
• Dry or double bag plant clippings before putting them in green waste recycle bins to avoid moving psyllid.
• Cooperate with agriculture officials on detection and treatment of the Asian citrus psyllid.

For more information 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 or the Los Angeles County Agriculture Commissioner at 626/575-5451.