Ag officials call on homeowners to help fight pests

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Ag officials say Fresno homeowners can play a key role in stopping the spread of a destructive citrus pest.

Traps have been set on citrus trees throughout a neighborhood near Clinton Avenue and Highway 99. They'll determine whether treatment must be extended beyond the immediate area.

One of the pests capable of killing citrus trees was found on a trap. Fresno County Ag commissioner Les Wright says the wind may be moving this pest around. "It's really concerning to the industry, but it's not just industry," Wright said. "There's more residential citrus trees than there are commercial trees so everybody that owns a tree needs to be concerned about this pest."

Any plant material from citrus trees, including fruit and leaves, cannot be moved from the five-mile quarantine area. Trimmings must be bagged and placed into your green waste bin. "It's concerning to us that the find in the city," Wright said. "We won't be able to stop it."

Concerned residents can bring their questions to Thursday night's ACP meeting at the Fresno County Farm Bureau. Psyllid's leave a waxy waste on tree stems. "We're finding more finds," Ryan Jacobsen with the bureau said. "We're obviously finding it locally. It is concerning. We're just really hoping we can keep that devastating HLB out of here."

The quarantine area includes both commercial groves and nurseries.