In the last couple of months at least 10 Asian citrus psyllids, a pest with the potential to ruin California's citrus industry, have been sighted.
The pests could be carrying huanglongbing, an incurable bacteria disease which doesn't harm humans or animals but does destroy citrus trees, as the disease is transmitted by the psyllid feeding on the liquid inside citrus leaves. There have been some psyllids discovered in Los Angeles County carrying the disease.
The State Department of Food and Agriculture has applied insecticides to areas where the pest has been found.
It is advised that the residents in the quarantined areas do not take their homegrown citrus outside this area and people do not take any fruit to Kern from L.A County. If commercial growers send citrus to be packed outside the quarantined areas, they must apply a special insecticide and make sure no leaves or other green material are shipped with the citrus.
