A pest in San Diego County can kill citrus trees when infected with a disease carried by the bug Asian Citrus Psyllid. Although the disease has not been found here yet, it has been killing trees in Los Angeles and poses a threat to the local economy. NBC 7’s Llarisa Abreu has more.
A tiny insect called Asian Citrus Psyllid has infested San Diego County, posing a serious risk to citrus trees across the region.
While the insect is generally harmless, farmers and back-yard citrus growers are very concerned over a disease that has recently proliferated in Los Angeles County.
There is no known cure for the disease known as Huanglongbing, also known as HLB or citrus greening disease. Although it's not harmful to humans, the disease has proven detrimental to citrus trees around the world.
Infected insects were recently found in Los Angeles County, which has sparked new fears among farmers and growers in San Diego that the disease may soon find its way here.
In the last five years in Florida, HLB caused the loss of more than an estimated 6,600 jobs and $3.6 billion of damage to the economy.
San Diego County farmers and growers are hoping to take action to halt the disease from spreading and ensure that the infected bugs don’t destroy local citrus farms.
The Board of Supervisors has agreed to form a special district to combat the pest.
Local
A citrus crop worth $126 million in San Diego County is at stake, if the disease manages to infect local bugs.
