Insect found in Tijuana poses risk to California citrus trade

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A tiny insect that can carry a disease that kills citrus trees has been discovered just blocks south of the border in Tijuana, sending shock waves through the California citrus industry.

The disease, known as citrus greening, has already killed tens of thousands of acres of orange groves in Florida and has the potential to ruin much of California’s $1.2-billion citrus-growing business, industry officials said.

Mexican agricultural officials found the Asian citrus psyllid in orange trees growing near homes in the vicinity of the California border.

But the officials are annoyed at the alarm sounded by California citrus farmers, saying there’s no evidence that these bugs have come into contact with the bacterium that causes the disease, also known as huanglongbing or yellow dragon disease, or that citrus greening is infecting Mexican citrus groves.

Read on about the bug here.

-- Deborah Bonello in Los Angeles