Diaphorina citri found in Alabama, California, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina (US)
In the USA, Diaphorina citri (Homoptera: Psyllidae – EPPO A1 List) was detected for the first time in Florida in June 1998 (EPPO RS 98/159). Subsequently, this vector of citrus huanglongbing was discovered in Texas in 2001 (EPPO RS 2003/033) and in Louisiana in 2008 (EPPO RS 2008/118). In August 2008, the presence of D. citri was confirmed in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina. All insect specimens were collected among residential citrus plants. At present, no psyllids or plants have tested positive for citrus huanglongbing in these four states. In September 2008, D. citri was also discovered in California. The insect specimen was collected from a lemon tree in a residential area of San Diego, approximately 18 km north of the border with Mexico.
It can be recalled that huanglongbing (associated with ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ – EPPO A1 List) is only known to occur in Florida and that it was recently detected in Louisiana.
The pest status of Diaphorina citri in the USA is officially declared as follows: Present in some areas and subject to official control to limit its spread in the United States.
Sources
NAPPO Pest Alert System.
- Official Pest Reports – USA (2008-08-28). Confirmation of Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and North Carolina. http://www.pestalert.org/oprDetail.cfm?oprID=340
- Official Pest Reports – USA (2008-09-04). Confirmation of Asian citrus psyllid in San Diego County, California – United States. http://www.pestalert.org/oprDetail.cfm?oprID=343