ASIAN CITRUS PSYLLID REPORTED IN TIJUANA, MEXICO

USDA-APHIS-PPQ 06/27/2008

On June 23, 2008, USDA confirmed Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) in the city of Tijuana, Mexico. The initial ACP specimens were collected among sweet orange plants on a residential property approximately 2 miles from Mexico’s border with California. To date, ACP has been detected on sweet orange or lemon plants on six residential properties in the area.

The initial ACP specimen was collected on June 19, 2008, by APHIS International Services personnel surveying in Mexico. APHIS personnel are conducting surveys in Mexico for ACP and citrus greening as part of Operation Psyllid Watch. The objective is to work cooperatively with Mexico to determine the extent of ACP infestation in the citrus-growing areas of Northern Mexico adjacent to or near the United States border, with intensified surveys in the Mexican States of Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Sonora, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Baja California Norte, and Baja California Sur.

The detection of ACP in the city of Tijuana, Mexico, is the closest to the U.S. California border to date. Previously, ACP was known to be present in other citrus-production areas of Mexico.

ACP is the primary vector for citrus greening. Neither ACP nor citrus greening is known to be in California, which is a major citrus-producing State. While citrus greening is not known to occur anywhere in Mexico, survey data indicates a broadly dispersed ACP population in that country, increasing the risk that citrus greening could spread quickly there if introduced or present.

APHIS personnel in Mexico informed their counterparts with the Secertaria de Agricultura, Ganaderia, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y Alimentecion’s (SAGARPA) Direccion General de Sanidad Vegetal (DGSV) regarding the suspect detection. DGSV agreed to conduct confirmatory identification of the specimens and allow specimens to be shipped to the United States. Confirmatory identification was obtained by the Agricultural Research Service’s Systematic Entomology Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland. DGSV also agreed to allow APHIS to conduct concurrent diagnostic testing of ACP specimens for citrus greening. On June 26, 2008, SAGARPA confirmed the detection of ACP in the city of Tijuana, Mexico. To date, all ACP specimens sent to APHIS have tested negative for citrus greening. Results from DGSV are not yet available.

APHIS continues to work closely with DGSV to intensify ACP and citrus greening survey activities in Tijuana and surrounding areas and to delimit the presence of ACP while assessing
PAGE TWO what other measures need to be taken. DGSV has indicated that it does not plan to respond with an ACP treatment program at this time.

APHIS is working closely with the States of Arizona and California to develop an appropriate response to this situation. APHIS has also alerted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enhance its vigilance in inspecting for ACP-infested host plants and commodities.

IF YOU SUSPECT YOU HAVE SEEN THIS INSECT OR DISEASE CALL THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE HOTLINE:

1-800-491-1899

MORE INFORMATION:

UC CITRUS ENTOMOLOGY PROGRAM CITRUS IPM NEWSLETTER

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER/WEIGHTS AND MEASURES DEPARTMENT

CDFA-SAMPLING PROTOCOL FOR ASIAN CITRUS PSYLLID

HUANGLONGBING & ASIAN CITRUS PSYLLID UC-ANR EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL