Two adult Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) samples have been confirmed positive for Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the bacteria that causes the deadly plant disease Huanglongbing (HLB), in two central coastal counties this month. An ACP sample collected from a residential property in the city of Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara County was confirmed positive for CLas on March 10. An ACP sample collected during a routine commodity survey in a commercial citrus grove in the Fillmore area of Ventura County was confirmed positive for CLas on March 10.
HLB quarantines will not be established as a result of these CLas+ ACP detections, as HLB quarantines are only established on a positive plant detection of HLB. Both areas are not currently located inside of an HLB quarantine zone.
Staff from the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division (CPDPD) have conducted intensive surveys and collected plant samples from the properties where the CLas+ ACP samples were collected and from adjacent properties.
While treatment in both areas is not mandatory, there are voluntary treatment options available and encouraged by the CPDPD to help combat ACP populations. It is more crucial than ever that agricultural officials, growers and residents work together to continue to control ACP populations in these areas, as rapid treatment and monitoring can stop ACP from spreading from tree to tree and potentially infecting nearby hosts.
In Santa Barbara, a voluntary treatment of all host plants will be offered to properties within 50 meters of the detection site. Treatments will be at no cost to the homeowner and will be conducted by CPDPD agricultural officials following the homeowner’s approval. In Fillmore, all growers within 250 meters of the detection are encouraged to apply insecticides to all HLB host material within the designated area, with materials recommended by the University of California.
Proactive treatments are the best way to control ACP populations, and ongoing sampling activities by CPDPD and County Agricultural Commissioners’ offices will help maintain a clear understanding of the status of ACP in both counties, as oftentimes a CLas+ ACP may precede the detection of an HLB+ tree.
For questions about the Santa Barbara detection, please contact agcommissioner@countyofsb.org. For questions about the Fillmore detection, please contact VenturaCountyAg.Commissioner@venturacounty.gov. All other inquiries can be routed through the CDFA Pest Hotline at 800-491-1899.