Country: United States

Title: Detection of Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphornia citri Kuwayama, in Louisiana

Contact:
Patrick Gomes, National Coordinator, Citrus Health Response Program, Office phone: 919.855.7313

Report: On May 29, 2008, the Agricultural Research Service’s Systematic Entomology Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland, confirmed the identification of a specimen of Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) from a residential property in Algiers, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. The psyllid was first collected by the homeowner, who submitted a digital photograph to the Louisiana State University (LSU) Agcenter Extension Entomologist. After review of the photo, the LSU Agcenter notified the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) of the suspect psyllid. APHIS visited the property and collected specimens. The psyllid was found on a lime tree that has been on the property for approximately 7 years, and planted in the ground for at least 3 years. A visit to the property by APHIS and LDAF inspectors resulted in the collection of a number of additional psyllids, which have now also been confirmed as being ACP.

As a result of this ACP detection, APHIS and LDAF are conducting delimiting surveys in the vicinity of the initial find. To date, ACP has been found at seven sites (4 residential properties and 3 retail nurseries) in Jefferson and Orleans Parishes. APHIS has issued Emergency Action Notifications to prevent the movement of infested nursery stock, and traceback surveys are now being conducted at nurseries that produced the nursery stock present at the infested retail nurseries. Since citrus and other ACP hosts are grown across the Southern tier of Louisiana’s parishes, a survey of this entire area has been initiated and will have to be completed before the full extent of the infestation is known.

In addition to the confirmation of ACP, APHIS is currently testing psyllids and plant tissue collected at each infested property for the presence of citrus greening (CG) disease, which is also known as huanglongbing. While ACP is a serious citrus pest itself, it is even more significant as the vector of CG, a disease now present in the continental United States, but only in Florida. The host range of CG overlaps that of ACP, and the detection of the psyllid is frequently a precursor to the identification of the disease.

As soon as the extent of the ACP infestation is known, APHIS will amend the January 11, 2008 CG/ACP Federal Order to include infested areas in Louisiana. If the presence of CG is also confirmed in plants in Louisiana, the Federal Order will additionally be amended to prevent the interstate movement of host plants and plant material from infested areas.

Under IPPC Standards Diaphornia citri is to be considered a pest that is transient: actionable, under surveillance in the United States.
 

Posted Date: June 9, 2008, 9 a.m.