Asian Citrus Psyllid--An Invasive Threat to Texas Citrus Julian
W. Sauls, Ph. D. The Asian citrus psyllid is a very efficient
vector of Asian citrus greening disease which was discovered in
Florida in August, 2005, and has been confirmed in over 30
Florida counties. This disease is deadly to all citrus trees,
without regard to rootstock or scion variety. The psyllid was
first identified in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas in the
summer of 2001 and has since spread to 32 counties--mostly from
Houston west to Del Rio and south to the Valley. In late 2007,
both the USDA and the Texas Department of Agriculture imposed
quarantines on the 32 Texas counties where the psyllid has been
found. The quarantines require special insecticidal treatments
for any citrus trees, plants or budwood before such materials
can be transported from any quarantined county to any non-
quarantined county in the state. None can be exported to any
other citrus-producing state, regardless of insecticidal
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