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Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Citrus Greening

Citrus greening threatens America's citrus. Don't risk citrus, don't move citrus.

Citrus Greening (Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus) is one of the most serious citrus plant diseases in the world. It is also known as Huanglongbing (HLB) or yellow dragon disease. Once a tree is infected, there is no cure. While the disease poses no threat to humans or animals, it has devastated millions of acres of citrus crops throughout the United States and abroad. Citrus greening is spread by a disease-infected insect, the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama or ACP), and has put the future of America's citrus at risk. Infected trees produce fruits that are green, misshapen and bitter, unsuitable for sale as fresh fruit or for juice. Most infected trees die within a few years.


  • The disease is currently found in California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

  • The psyllids have been detected in Alabama, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

  •   See Pest Tracker for details
  • Chinese box-orange
  • Curry leaf
  • Finger-lime
  • Grapefruit
  • Key lime
  • Kumquat
  • Lemon
  • Lime
  • Limeberry
  • Mandarin orange
  • Mock orange
  • Orange
  • Orange jasmine
  • Pomelo
  • Sour orange
  • Sweet orange
  • Tangerine
  • Trifoliate orange

The citrus greening bacterium and the Asian citrus psyllid spread on infected citrus plants and citrus plant material. Plants and material can spread the infection even if no psyllids are visible. Commercial citrus fruit, which is typically graded, washed, brushed and cleaned, is not known to spread the disease.

  • Know the quarantines in your area and learn to leave Hungry Pests behind.

  • Consult Federal and State websites for specific information and regulations. Contact the USDA Cooperative Extension Service in your area for further information.

  • Citrus plants sold in a regulated state must be sold from a certified vendor and be accompanied by a USDA certificate.

  • Commercial citrus businesses, Internet shippers and roadside vendors within regulated states should be able to prove they are in compliance with the federal quarantine. Before you buy, ask the vendor if their product is in compliance.

  • The movement of branches, cut greens, green waste, dead trees and other regulated items will be regulated and enforced by federal, state and county quarantine officials.

  • Cut flower producers in quarantined areas are not affected unless they utilize Murraya, a host plant closely related to citrus, or flowers and branches cut from plants regulated for citrus greening and Asian citrus psyllid.

  • Within quarantine areas consume home-grown citrus fruit at home and do not transport home-grown citrus or citrus plants out of the area.

  • Visible psyllids or waxy psyllid droppings
  • Lopsided, bitter, hard fruit with small, dark aborted seeds
  • Fruit that remains green even when ripe
  • Asymmetrical blotchy mottling of leaves
  • Yellow shoots
  • Twig dieback
  • Stunted, sparsely foliated trees that may bloom off season

 

What's at Risk from Citrus Greening:


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