Tiny bug threatens California citrus industry

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The Asian citrus psyllid is seen in this University of Florida photo provided by the University of California Davis. California and Arizona growers are bracing for a fight they say is potentially more damaging than the Mediterranean fruit fly because ...
The Asian citrus psyllid is seen in this University of Florida photo provided by the University of California, Davis. California and Arizona growers are bracing for a fight they say is potentially more damaging than the Mediterranean fruit fly because entire groves, not just fruit, are at risk. Psyllids feed on the liquid inside citrus leaves and are the only transmitter of a deadly disease officially known by its Chinese name huanglongbing, or "yellow dragon disease" for its visual effect on leaves. In the U.S. growers call it "citrus greening" because fruit fails to ripen. (AP Photo/University of Florida, Michael Rogers)

(AP) -- Border agents have stepped up searches and hundreds of traps have been placed on the California-Mexico line in an aggressive campaign to stop a tiny bug from bringing in a disease farmers say could wipe out the $1.3 billion citrus industry here.


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All News summaries for July 18, 2008