Asian citrus psyllid discovered in Strathmore, Ducor

The Asian citrus psyllid, or jumping plant louse, has continued to spread in California as the Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner's office detected the pest north of Eckert Field near Strathmore and northeast of Ducor.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) confirmed the findings Monday morning.

The discoveries are the sixth and seventh locations where the psyllids have been found this year. The pests were first found in July and have been spotted between Porterville and Terra Bella, south of Exeter and in Dinuba since.

As of now, quarantines have been put in place in Porterville and Dinuba and one is pending for the Exeter discovery. They are expected to last for at least two years and extend over a two mile radius from the discovery point.

The psyllid is an invasive species that can carry the bacteria that causes huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening. All citrus and related species are susceptible to both the insect and the disease. The psyllid lives on the leaves and stems. There is no known cure for infected trees.

Diseased trees decline in health and produce bitter, misshaped fruit until they die. To date, HLB has been detected on just one residential property in the Hacienda Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Residents in the area who think they may have seen the pest are urged to call CDFA’s Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899 or the Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner.