The Western citrus industry is on high alert due to an aphid-sized insect on the move from mostly urban areas towards commercial citrus groves. The Asian citrus psyllid vectors the world’s most deadly citrus tree disease, Huanglongbing (also called citrus greening). The psyllid has been found in California and Arizona but the disease has not yet been identified.

Ted Batkin, California Research Board president, explains the actions underway in California, the nation’s second largest citrus producer, to keep the psyllid out of California’s major citrus belt located in the San Joaquin Valley.