Ventura County Citrus: Facing Extinction?

Huanglongbing (HLB)is a bacterial disease that can infect all citrus varieties Infected trees produce fruit that is bitter, misshapen and oddly colored No treatment or cure Invariably kills all infected trees In Mexico, and heading our way Spread by an invasive insect pest known as Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) The Killer: Huanglongbing

The Carrier: Asian citrus psyllid

Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) Small insect, about the size of an aphid Adults feed by sucking juices from either young or mature leaves Nymphs feed only on young, tender leaves and stems Psyllid picks up HLB bacteria when it feeds on infected tree; carries bacteria in its body the rest of its life Psyllid passes on bacteria — and HLB disease — each time it feeds on new tree ACP is expected to reach Ventura County this year (already in Van Nuys)

HLB has already devastated Florida’s citrus industry. Disease and the insect that transmits it are spreading. HLB is now in western Mexico, about 750 miles south of U.S. border

HLB is not yet in California. Asian citrus psyllid is in San Diego, Imperial, Orange and Los Angeles counties. Historically, disease arrives in a region months after the psyllid. Because disease can’t be cured, only strategy is to swiftly detect and rapidly eradicate ACP

What’s at Stake? Citrus accounts for 24,000 acres — a quarter of Ventura County’s cropland $510 million in annual economic activity 7,000+ jobs $19 million a year in tax revenue EVERY BACKYARD CITRUS TREE IS AT RISK!

What is Being Done? State, national and international efforts: Quarantines Trapping Eradication Research Public education

What is Being Done? Local efforts: Ventura County ACP-HLB Task Force Member affiliations: Farm Bureau, Agricultural Commissioner, UC Cooperative Extension, SOAR, Ag Futures Alliance, United Way, Ventura County Economic Development Association, Ventura County Agricultural Association, The Nature Conservancy, growers, pest-control organizations, packinghouses. Mission: To coordinate an education and outreach program intended to alert Ventura County residents to the threat posed by the Asian citrus psyllid and HLB, and to mobilize broad public support for efforts to exclude, detect and eradicate the pest. Trapping Public education

What Can You Do? Don’t move plants or fruit into Ventura County from other areas. Inspect your citrus trees often for ACP and report suspicious finds to CDFA ( ) or Agricultural Commissioner ( ). Support efforts to eradicate any ACP infestation swiftly and completely

Thank you! To learn more: Visit the Ventura County ACP-HLB Task Force on