Deadly citrus pest found for first time in Bay Area

The California Department of Food and Agriculture detected the first incidence in the Bay Area of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) Oct. 6. The pest causes a disease that kills citrus trees.

Much of the threat is to citrus trees in residential areas since much of California's citrus industry is located outside of the Bay Area, according to the CDFA.

As a result, the department is quarantining an area in Santa Clara County, where the pest was found earlier this month, according to a department news release and Steve Lyle, director, CDFA public affairs office.

"It's not just a commercial threat," Lyle said of the disease, which has no affect on humans.

"The disease is what we're really worried about," Lyle said.

Because the infested area is small, the CDFA is hoping to eliminate the pest rather than simply control its spread.

Lyle couldn't say how much citrus is grown by homeowners in the Bay Area, but anecdotally citrus grown in Bay Area yards is quite common, he said.

Joel Nelsen, president, California Citrus Mutual, a nonprofit citrus growers association, echoed Lyle's comments about the impact on homeowners in affected area. Nelsen said homeowners will be asked to help stop the spread of the pest before it infects trees.

The CDFA is asking residents of the quarantine area to avoid transporting citrus fruit or leaves, potted citrus trees and leaves of the curry tree from the quarantined area. The psyllids can infect citrus trees and related species such as curry trees.

Lyle said the disease has been detected only once in California. That was in Los Angeles County two years ago.

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Deadly citrus pest found for first time in Bay Area