In an effort to keep readers of the HungryPests blog informed, we wanted to pass along the following information…
The U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is making available to the public an environmental assessment (EA) relative to the control of Asian citrus psyllids (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama. The purpose of this EA is to analyze the environmental impact of an ACP control program throughout the continental United States and Puerto Rico. APHIS is providing a 30-day comment period for response to this EA.
Consideration will be given to comments received on or before September 26, 2010. Read more... (173 words, estimated 42 secs reading time)
When most people think of citrus, they think of Florida. But did you know that California is the second top producer of citrus in the United States? And the top producer of citrus table fruit, the fresh oranges, lemons, grapefruit and limes you see in stores (not in juice cartons)? Citrus trees dot the state, from orchards of thousands to backyard trees providing fresh produce to home owners. Read more... (451 words, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)
The spread of Asian Citrus Psyllid into California and the threat of citrus greening disease (Huanglongbing or HLB) becoming established here has been all over the news recently. It’s an important issue and one that we are closely following. Sometimes there are interesting articles out there about this and other invasive pest topics, with new or different perspectives, that we would like to share with our audience. When we see those items online, we’ll provide excerpts of the article or blog post along with our perspective. One of those excerpts is below, on Asian Citrus Psyllid. Read on… Read more... (504 words, estimated 2:01 mins reading time)
You may have heard the news that a tiny insect, about the size of an aphid, has arrived in southern California and has the potential to cause great harm to the citrus industry. The Asian citrus psyllid lives on young leaves of all types of citrus (lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruit) and closely related plants such as kumquat, Indian curry leaves and an ornamental plant called mock orange. When it feeds, the psyllid injects a toxin that causes the new leaves to twist and curl or fall off completely. Read more... (573 words, 2 images, estimated 2:18 mins reading time)
Asian Citrus Psyllid
One of the greatest fears of California’s citrus industry came true this month: an Asian citrus psyllid carrying Huanglongbing disease (HLB) was found in the state. This tiny insect has been found in California before, but never before has a psyllid been found with HLB. In fact, HLB has never before been found on the west side of the Rocky Mountains! HLB has devastated citrus crops in Florida and Brazil and has the potential to devastate California’s citrus industry, worth more than $1 billion annually, as well. Read more... (433 words, 1 image, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)
Author: Deborah McPartlan, Staff Officer, Emergency Management, USDA-APHIS | Category: