An insect carrying the bacteria that causes the HLB disease, also known as citrus greening has been found on a residential citrus tree in Ventura County, according to the California Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program.
This is the first detection of an Asian citrus psyllid with Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) in that county.
The HLB disease a tree killer for all citrus home and commercial and has no known cure.
According to the California Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program, the psyllid takes the bacteria into its body when it feeds on bacteria-infected plants.
When a bacteria-carrying psyllid flies to a healthy plant and injects the bacteria into the plant as it feeds, it can spread the disease.
So far the HLB disease had not been detected in any Ventura County citrus trees.
