The discovery of two Asian citrus psyllids in northeast Salinas, has led to a quarantine on all of Salinas and some surrounding areas imposed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The tiny insect has caused endless worry among citrus growers across Southern and much of Central California and is now Monterey County’s problem, too.
The psyllid, itself, isn’t the problem. What is of concern is that it can carry huanglongbing — commonly known as “HLB” or “citrus greening” — a bacteria that the insect can contract from infected citrus trees and then spread to other citrus trees when they feed on their leaves and branches.
All of SoCal is under a quarantine because of psyllids found throughout that region since 2008. Similar quarantines are in effects in parts of Central California, including neighboring San Benito, Fresno and San Luis Obispo counties.
After CDFA scientists confirmed on June 7 that psyllids were found on an insect trap placed near the outskirts of Salinas, the Monterey Agricultural Commissioner’s office on Wednesday requested the quarantine and the state agency complied.
That quarantine extends around the entire city, along with unincorporated areas stretching about five miles in all directions from where the insects were found, including all of Spreckels, southern Prundale and almost as far northeast as Castroville, said Robert Roach, Monterey County’s assistant agricultural commissioner.
Commercial citrus in the county is located west of Gonzalez, about 15 miles from where the psyllids were found, but the quarantine will affect nurseries that sell citrus trees and the people who buy them, he said.
Robert Roach said that CDFA put out additional insect traps Wednesday 13 June in and around the city to try to determine if more psyllids are present.
In addition, he announced that about a 400-meter area in all directions around where the psyllids were found will be sprayed with insecticides in hopes of killing off more of the insects.
Though citrus isn’t among Monterey County’s top-valued crops, lemons still generated more than $28 million in sales here in 2014, so even a single psyllid find is likely of concern to area growers.
Source: thecalifornian.com
