California citrus

The California Department of Food and Agriculture has mounted a widespread trapping programme following the discovery of a number of Asian psyllids, a potential carrier of citrus greening disease, just north of the Mexican border.

Agency spokesman Jay Van Rein said a total of 13 pests had been found so far. Speaking to The Packer, Mr Van Rein said the fact that the finds were in the same core area, which is about 40 miles from the state’s closest citrus acreage, was positive.

The specimens are undergoing further investigation but it is not yet clear whether they are infected with the greening disease.

The Asian psyllid was first discovered on the West Coast in June at the border city of Tijuana. Since then a number of discoveries have been made in the Mexican city although none have so far tested positive for the disease.

Separately, the CDFA announced last month that Medfly has been eradicated from the state. The last remaining quarantines that were in place in parts of Santa Clara, Solano and Los Angeles have now been lifted.

“At present, there are no remaining Medfly infestations in the state,” the agency said.

However, a 75-square-mile area around the Lakewood area of Los Angeles County was declared a new quarantine after the discovery of a number of adult Oriental fruit flies. This pest can infest more than 230 types of fruits and vegetables, but the CDFA said infestations were “almost an annual occurrence”.