To help protect the California citrus we love, there are a handful of rules and regulations in place including Huanglongbing (HLB) quarantine which places limits on the transport and movement of citrus plants and materials to prevent the spread of the deadly disease. According to the Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program, HLB has only been found in parts of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. There have been no known detections of HLB in Chino Hills, however, Chino Hills is placed within the quarantine zone.
How HLB is Spread
A tiny insect no bigger than a grain of rice may go unnoticed on your citrus trees, but it could have devastating consequences for California citrus if not stopped. The ACP feeds on citrus leaves and stems and can infect citrus trees with a bacteria that causes a serious plant disease called HLB. While not harmful to humans, the disease kills citrus trees and has no cure. Although HLB has not yet been found in a commercial citrus grove, more than 2,300 residential citrus trees in California have been infected with HLB and removed to limit the spread of HLB.
Protect Your Citrus Trees
The best way to protect citrus trees from HLB is to stop the ACP. Once a tree is infected with HLB, it will die. Diseased trees need to be removed in order to protect other citrus trees on the property, neighbors, trees, and the community's citrus. Visit www.californiacitrusthreat.org/pest-disease and click through the photo slideshow to see photos and learn how to detect the ACP and HLB on your citrus tree.
If you think you have spotted the pest or disease, call the free statewide pest hotline at 800-491-1899. Learn More about the HLB Quarantine, view FAQs, and what restrictions are in place in an HLB Quarantine Zone here.
The Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program recommends these tips to protect citrus trees:
- Inspect trees for the ACP and HLB monthly, and whenever watering, spraying, pruning, or tending trees; If the disease is spotted, call the CDFA hotline at 800-491-1899 immediately
- Do not move citrus plants, leaves, or foliage into or out of the quarantine area or across state or international borders, keep it local
- As part of tree care, visit your local nursery or garden center to get advice on products that can help protect citrus trees from the ACP
- Recommendations on managing the Asian citrus psyllid can be found by visiting the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources website
- Buy citrus trees from licensed, local nurseries and only use registered budwood
- Cooperate with agricultural officials placing insect traps, inspecting trees and treating for the pest
- Be sure to dry out citrus tree clippings or double bag them before disposing the plant material
- If you no longer wish to care for your citrus tree, consider removing it so it does not become a host to the pest or disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
To help California residents understand what the HLB quarantine means, the Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program answers commonly asked questions to best explain how we all need to work together to protect California’s citrus.