ACP Population Control A Better Road to Travel
The Disease
The existence of Huanglongbing disease (HLB) which in Chinese means "yellow dragon disease" also commonly known as Citrus Greening was first reported (documented in English) in Southern China in 1919. HLB is caused by a bacterium that progressively blocks the flow of nutrients within citrus trees and other related member plants of the Rutaceae family. Unfortunately, HLB disease is currently incurable. In most cases this progressive disease destroys most kinds of citrus over a period of 3 to 8 years.
The Disease Insect Vector
The Asian citrus psyllid, (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama) "ACP" Sub Order *Homopterous; is now a global insect pest in your area. ACP, a plant piercing and sucking insect is infected while feeding on a diseased plant then carries (flies) and transmits HLB's phloem-limited bacteria (Candidatus Liberibacter spp.) During their life span consisting of 2 to 3 months ACP lay 500 to 1000 eggs which are deposited in the flush "a cluster of young citrus shoots". When the psyllid nymphs emerge they feed on the trees new leaf phloem liquid over a period of 28 days through 5 growth stages to adulthood. It is these young infected adults that represent the greatest threat of rapidly spreading HLB to new citrus hosts.
Note; HLB spreads slowly within individual citrus plants. Some citrus may not show obvious signs of the disease over the first few years, where as others especially young plants may show signs in just a few months.
Ants, the Ultimate Enablers of ACP
The Argentine ant "Linepithema humile" is easily the most successful super organism invasive ant species present on six continents worldwide. Considered to be the number one urban insect pest in California where its presence was first reported in 1908. It is also responsible for direct and indirect damage to food crops which translates into considerable economic impact on farmers and consumers. Along with many other species of ants Argentines farm and protect ACP and other homopteran insects in exchange for their honeydew, a sugar-rich fecal liquid excrement that is the main component of their diet. Ants protect ACP from their natural enemies, (lady beetles, parasitoid wasps, lacewings, spiders, hoverflies and more) sometimes killing them in the process, thereby interfering with nature's natural ability to control this pest and the potentially devastating HLB disease that may follow.
*Homopterous:estimates of 32,000 species, are commonly known as aphids, scale, psyllids, mealybugs, whitefly and numerous other plant piercing sucking insects. Most of these insects are vectors of bacteria and viruses comprising more than 80% of all insect-transmitted plant diseases. Homopterans are considered to be the most destructive insects of both, food and non-food crops.
