Daniel Joseph Becnel
June 20, 2008June 25
June 25, 2008A citrus-harming insect found in five retail garden centers and 34 properties in Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines and St. Charles parishes last week has now been found on a single plant at one retailer in Lafourche Parish.
The Asian citrus psyllid is on a quarantined list of pests. The disease it may cause, citrus greening or huanglongbing (HLB), is on a list of quarantined diseases.
While he would not say where it was found, Department of Forestry Director Craig Roussel said residents have nothing to worry about.
“It was only found on one plant at the retail center,” he stressed. “It’s not a major concern because we haven’t found any on any plants planted in the ground in the parish. The plant was properly disposed of; it appears to be the only one.”
The tiny insect is only three or four centimeters long and is the spreader of the disease. The disease, HLB, can prevent citrus fruit from ripening and ultimately kill the tree.
By grafting with diseased budwoods, Asian citrus psyllids spread HLB.
According to Roussel, in Orleans Parish, where the insect was more common, the proper actions were taken to destroy the pest.
“We found some on a tree,” Roussel said. “(The tree) was cut down and also properly disposed of.”
The state DAF and the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) inspectors are continuing to survey south Louisiana for the insect and citrus greening.
Commercial and hobbyist citrus growers in parishes where the psyllid is found will need to comply with a special treatment program to prevent the spread of the insect before the sale of those plants outside the parishes is allowed.
Citrus is a $6.4 million commercial agriculture industry in Louisiana.
Anyone looking for more information on the insect can visit the LDAF Web site at www.ldaf. state.la.us.
