Recent detections of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) in Imperial, San Diego, and Los Angeles counties have resulted in the expansion of quarantines. Since the finds occurred close to county lines, there also are implications for Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

The ACP quarantine has expanded into Riverside County because of three, distinct- adjoining areas: a roughly five-mile-long arc due north of Valley Center in San Diego County where a psyllid was recently detected; all of the Coachella Valley following a detection in the northwestern corner of Imperial County; and the northwestern corner of Riverside County following a detection in Pomona in Los Angeles County.

The Pomona detection also resulted in portions of west San Bernardino County being placed under quarantine. The Valley Center detection also resulted in an additional 977 square miles of San Diego County under quarantine.

Agricultural shipments from the quarantine zones are restricted by regulations designed to minimize movement of potentially infested commodities. Residents and people moving through the quarantine zone are urged not to remove citrus fruits with leaves and stems from the area.

The quarantine prohibits the movement of citrus nursery stock and other ACP host plants, including Orange Jasmine out of the quarantine area.

A total of 14, 201 square miles, or 8.5 percent of California's total land mass, an area larger than the state of Maryland, are now under quarantine for ACP.

Maps of the areas mentioned are located online at: www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/PE/InteriorExclusion/acp_quarantine.html

The ACP can carry the disease huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease. All citrus and closely related plant species are susceptible host plants for ACP and HLB.

There is no cure for HLB once a citrus tree becomes infected. The diseased tree will produce inedible fruit and decline in health until it dies. California remains free of HLB.