Reference no: EM133142222

When insects, plants, animals, and diseases invade California from other parts of the country or the world, they can wreak havoc on agricultural crops and cause ecological damage to the state's natural areas. Invasive species damage every inhabitant of California. According to historical records, a new invertebrate species establishes itself in California approximately every six weeks. While not all become severe pest problems, many elude eradication attempts, upset well-calibrated integrated pest management programs, hijack fragile ecosystems, and wreak havoc on valuable recreational resources and urban landscapes.

Huanglongbing disease, which destroys citrus trees, is endangering commercial citrus output in Southern California's residential neighborhoods. Now, there is no cure for huanglongbing illness. The Asian citrus psyllid is responsible for its spread. The bug, which is native to Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other Asian countries, was discovered in California for the first time in 2008. Now, the illness can only be controlled by reducing the psyllid population and removing trees that are sick or placed near afflicted trees. Pests discover and disseminate huanglongbing anywhere the Asian citrus psyllid is found. In California, a concerted effort to keep psyllid populations low, regulations limiting the spread of psyllids during fruit trucking, and active scouting for and removal of huanglongbing-infected trees in residential areas could buy time for researchers to find a solution before California suffers the same fate as Florida citrus growers, whose orange production is 70% lower than it was two decades ago.