California’s US$1.2bn citrus industry is holding its breath after an Asian citrus psyllid was found on a lemon tree in San Diego, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The insect is the major carrier of the citrus greening disease, or huanglongbing, which renders fruit commercially worthless and slowly kills trees.
Californian state agriculture officials announced the discovery on Friday, and are keen to set up measures to control the psyllids.
“We must move quickly to identify the full extent of the infestation and do all we can to protect our state's citrus industry,” said A G Kawamura, secretary of California's Department of Food and Agriculture.
Asian citrus psyllids were found last month in Tijuana, just south of the US-Mexico border. Neither the Tijuana or San Diego psyllids were found to be infected with the citrus greening disease.
The citrus greening disease has already hit the state of Florida’s orange groves, where it has destroyed thousands of hectares of trees.
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