Citrus quarantine applies to residents

Residents who have citrus trees in their yards are reminded that the quarantine placed on much of Yuma County last week by state agriculture officials applies to them as well as commercial producers.

So if anyone is thinking of taking a bag of lemons to someone out of town or shipping a box of tangerines to friends up north, "please don't," said John Caravetta, associate director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture.

That goes as well for any plant material from a citrus tree such as sticks, leaves or even plants, he said.

The quarantine was put in place for all of Yuma County west of Telegraph Pass after a third Asian citrus psyllid was found a week ago in the Somerton area. Two insects had been found earlier in San Luis, Ariz.

Monday, a fourth psyllid was found in a sticky trap in a residential area in the city of Yuma off Pacific Avenue between Avenues 2 and 3E, Caravetta announced Tuesday.

The insect is of grave concern because it can carry the disease Huanglongbing, more commonly known as citrus greening, that is fatal to infected citrus trees and is considered a major threat to the industry.

"We're asking for the public's help to keep this pest from spreading beyond where we know it is now," Caravetta said.

Containing the pest is critical to the area's citrus industry, which plays a large role in the county's economy, as well as for homeowners who enjoy having citrus trees in their backyards, he said.

"But this will be possible only with the assistance of both commercial growers and residents," Caravetta said. "It's important that no one takes citrus or plant material out of the area. It's easy to move the insect, its eggs and children on nursery stock as hitchhikers to other areas of the state and out of state. It's very important that it not be moved to other citrus-producing areas."

If someone wants to send citrus to friends or family, Caravetta advises that they purchase the fruit from a packing house or commercial retailer that has cleaned, processed and packed it to ensure it isn't carrying any hitchhiking insects.

The four insects detected to date have all been found in sticky traps and all have been males, he said. However, a visual inspection of the tree in San Luis where the initial pest was found in Yuma County revealed a number of the insects.

As a result, he said, the department is planning to start treating the tree and others that are located nearby in the border community.

Before starting the treatment, though, agriculture officials will meet with area residents to explain the problem, the need for treatment and the procedure. Caravetta said arrangements are being made to hold the San Luis meeting Monday evening.

A map of the quarantine area is posted at www.azda.gov.

If homeowners have questions about their citrus trees, they can call the Arizona Department of Agriculture office in Yuma County at 341-1680.

Joyce Lobeck can be reached at jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.