Californians Cautioned Against Spreading Deadly Citrus Pest and Disease Amid Record-Breaking July Fourth Travel

AAA is forecasting a record 70.9 million Americans will be traveling over the Fourth of July as summer travel hits a record high, and agricultural officials are cautioning Californians on what NOT to pack for their trips ? homegrown citrus fruit and plant material.

Traveling with citrus fruit or plant material can unknowingly spread a dangerous pest ? the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) ? and the deadly citrus plant disease it can carry, Huanglongbing (HLB).

Officials from the California Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division (CPDPD) are urging Californians to obey plant quarantine restrictions, which limit the transport and movement of citrus fruit and plant material into or out of a quarantine area and across state and international lines. Portions of Southern California are currently under an HLB quarantine throughout areas of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside and Ventura counties.

The ACP, a tiny insect that feeds on citrus leaves and stems, can spread HLB. While not harmful to humans or animals, it is fatal to citrus trees. There is no cure for HLB, and infected trees will die. Both the pest and disease have been found in California and citrus tree owners should be on high alert.

"As residents embark on their summer travels, avoiding the movement of their backyard citrus into or out of quarantine zones, neighboring counties, state lines or international borders is paramount," said David Gutierrez, interim director of the CPDPD at the California Department of Food and Agriculture. "Support from California residents is critical in preventing the spread of this deadly pest and plant disease, and we all need to work together to safeguard the future of California's citrus."

The ACP and HLB are not the only plant pests and diseases threatening backyard citrus. In other areas of California, invasive fruit fly populations have created additional quarantines that restrict any movement of homegrown produce ? including citrus ? from the property where it's grown, and no produce should be moved from these areas. To learn more about invasive fruit fly quarantines throughout the state, visit CAFruitFly.com.

All California residents are encouraged to inspect their citrus trees for the ACP and HLB whenever watering, spraying, pruning or tending to them. The ACP is one-eighth of an inch long and feeds at a 45-degree angle, making the insect appear thorn-like on leaves and stems. Symptoms of HLB include blotchy, yellowing of leaves; yellow shoots; lopsided, small and rancid-tasting fruit; and premature and excessive fruit drop. Residents should report pest or disease symptoms to the free California Department of Food and Agriculture pest hotline by calling 1-800-491-1899.

By complying with plant quarantine restrictions, limiting the movement of citrus fruit and plant material, and through proper pest and disease management, residents can play their part in preventing the spread of the ACP and HLB. For more information on ACP and HLB prevention, visit CaliforniaCitrusThreat.org.

About the Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program

The Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program was established in 2009 to advise the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture and agricultural industry about efforts to combat serious citrus pests and diseases ? like the Asian citrus psyllid and Huanglongbing ? that threaten California's citrus trees. To learn more, visit CaliforniaCitrusThreat.org.