science

HLB Tree Triggers New Quarantine

Taylor HillmanCitrus, Pest Update

HLB Tree
Another huanglongbing (HLB) infected tree has been found in Southern California. Although the HLB tree is in an urban area, it is outside of the current HLB quarantines. Officials said a new quarantine would be formed that will unite them all into one larger area.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) reported that a tree in an urban area of La Habra has tested positive for HLB. CDFA’s Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program (CPDPP) stated this find would trigger a new quarantine, merging all current quarantines into one large zone that includes areas of Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

A total of 53 trees in California have tested positive for HLB disease. Another three trees were confirmed positive earlier this month in San Gabriel inside of a current quarantine area.

The CPDPP also reported that two Asian citrus psyllids in Anaheim tested positive for the bacteria that causes the disease. CDFA said they are treating plants in a surrounding 800-meter area where the traps are located, and no diseased trees have been found in that area so far.

Read more from CitrusInsider.org.