Another Pest Found In Calif. Citrus Belt

Another tiny pest capable of carrying and spreading a disease deadly to citrus trees has been found in California's citrus belt. California Department of Food and Agriculture spokesman Steve Lyle says an Asian citrus psyllid was discovered near Terra Bella in Tulare County. The psyllid was identified last week on a trap in a citrus grove.

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Another tiny pest capable of carrying and spreading a disease deadly to citrus trees has been found in California's citrus belt.

California Department of Food and Agriculture spokesman Steve Lyle says an Asian citrus psyllid was discovered near Terra Bella in Tulare County. The psyllid was identified last week on a trap in a citrus grove.

It's the third psyllid found this year in the San Joaquin Valley. The first was discovered in February and the second in October, both in Tulare County.

As a result of the recent discoveries, Lyle said Tuesday a quarantine would be instituted for the area.

A number of other psyllids have been found in Southern California, but none of those pests have tested positive for the deadly bacteria known by its Chinese name Huanglongbing, also called citrus greening.

The disease has decimated the citrus sector in Florida and other parts of the world.

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