If you think you have found this tiny pest, call the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899. (Picture provided by CDFA.)

What is Happening?

On Monday, August 24, one specimen of Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP), a serious agricultural pest, was detected in the Echo Park neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). ACP is an exotic insect pest that is not native to California, is not established in Los Angeles County, and poses a threat to citrus trees.

Although they are tiny, ACP specimens pose a huge threat as they can transmit a devastating disease known as Huanglongbing (HLB) to citrus trees and closely related species. There is no cure once a tree becomes infected. The disease destroys the taste of fruit, and the diseased tree will decline in health until it dies. 

Fortunately, as of this update, HLB has not been detected yet in trapped ACP specimens or trees in California.    

Where Is This Pest From?

Naturally established in Asia, ACP has been introduced to South America, Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas, and San Diego County and Imperial County. It was recently found in Orange County.

How Did This Pest Get Here?

We don’t know for sure.  With modern shipping and travel, exotic pests can get from one side of the planet to the other in mere hours.

Please note that this is why bringing fruits, vegetables, or plant materials into California without official inspection can be illegal.

Extensive pest exclusion policies and procedures do prevent many potential infestations.  However, whether a pest avoids these safeguards on its own, or hitches a ride with illegally smuggled items - whether the smuggler intended to smuggle or was simply unaware of the law - some do get into Los Angeles County.

We place and monitor thousands of insect pest detection traps all over the county.  When we find an exotic pest, the California Department of Agriculture will place delimitation traps in that area to determine if there is a problem.

What is Being Done to Fight This Pest?

1) CDFA has placed extra traps, known as delimitation traps, to check for more specimens.

2) CDFA treated the detection location Wednesday, August 27, applying pesticides to plants and soil.

3) A quarantine area will be established that will restrict movement of host plants and fruit through the area.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture will determine what additional actions to take.

What Can I Do to Help?

Do not bring back uninspected fruits, vegetables, or plant material from outside of the state or country.

Discourage friends and family from out of the state or country from sending you these items unless they are can be officially inspected.

Do not take citrus fruit or trees out of Los Angeles County.

Report the illegal movement of fruits, vegetables, and plant material.

Report any ACP specimen you find to California Department of Food and Agriculture Exotic Pest Hotline: 1-800-491-1899.

For More Information

Please see the California Department of Food and Agriculture website:
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/acp/