If you own a citrus tree, be on the lookout for this pest that is killing trees

A fatal plant disease – Huanglongbing – has been found in California and without support from California residents it could be a death sentence to California's backyard and commercial citrus trees.

While Huanglongbing (HLB) is not harmful to humans, there is no cure and once a citrus tree is infected it will die. The disease has decimated Florida citrus, and now that HLB is here, California's beloved citrus trees are also at risk. While there have not yet been any Huanglongbing-infected trees found in the City of Mission Viejo, the quarantine zone is close – with the southern zone boundary tracking along SR 133.

The disease is spread by an insect called the Asian citrus psyllid, which can be found throughout California – the top fresh citrus fruit producing state in the nation. By working together, we can all save our citrus trees.

California homeowners – 60 percent of whom own citrus trees – play an important role in protecting citrus in our state and are being asked to protect their backyard trees by searching for signs of the pest and disease.

Report any suspicious pests or signs of HLB to the California Department of Food and Agriculture hotline at 800-491-1899. For more information about the pest and how to protect your citrus trees, visit CaliforniaCitrusThreat.org. To see areas impacted by the insect, visit this link.