Protecting North Florida’s Citrus: Why Your Backyard Tree Matters in the Fight Against Citrus Greening

This article was written by Dr. Romain Exilien, Postdoctoral Associate, UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) and Dr. Xavier Martini, Associate Professor, UF/IFAS NFREC.

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is a small, mottled-brown insect about ⅛ inch long, but it poses a major threat to Florida’s citrus trees (Figure 1). The ACP is the vector the pathogen causing Huanglongbing (HLB), commonly known as citrus greening disease, a bacterial infection that is fatal to citrus trees and has no cure. Once infected, a tree declines steadily, producing bitter, misshapen fruit before eventually dying. The disease has caused a 90% decline of citrus production in Central and South Florida in a little more than a decade. Fortunately, North Florida citrus groves are still relatively free of ACP and HLB. However, as the cold hardy citrus industry continues to expand, monitoring for ACP is essential to protecting the future of citrus in the region and preventing citrus greening from becoming established.

Close-up of a citrus flush infested with Asian citrus psyllid insects and separate image showing unripe, sick citrus fruit on a branch. — **Figure 1.** Asian citrus psyllid (Left, photo credit: USDA 2026), and citrus tree showing HLB (citrus greening) symptoms in Carrabelle, FL. (Right, photo credit: E. Lovestrand, UF/IFAS).

Hidden Reservoirs in Our Own Backyards

Commercial groves aren’t the only places ACP and HLB take root. Residential areas, where many North Florida homeowners have citrus trees, can quietly harbor both the insect and the disease, often unnoticed for long stretches of time. These backyard populations matter because they can serve as a reservoir, allowing ACP to spread toward nearby commercial groves. Recent surveys have detected ACP in residential areas across North Florida, including Bristol, the Gulf Coast around Carrabelle (Exilien et al., 2025), Tallahassee (Dr. Martini), and multiple counties with commercial and residential citrus in South Georgia (UGA 2026). ACP populations were found throughout the year, with seasonal peaks varying by location (Figure 2). These detections send a clear message: ACP is active in our communities, and protecting citrus requires vigilance not only in commercial groves but also in residential landscapes.

Line graphs comparing ACP adults and nymphs per plant in Bristol and Gulf Coast locations for 2023 and 2024. Bristol shows a peak in July 2024, while Gulf Coast shows very low numbers throughout both years. — **Figure 2.** Monthly abundance of ACP in residential backyard citrus plantings at Bristol, and Gulf Coast (Apalachicola, Eastpoint and Carabelle) locations during 2023–2024 (Exilien et al., 2025).

A Science-Based Monitoring Effort

To help address this threat, the Martini Lab at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) is leading an active ACP monitoring program in partnership with county Extension agents across the region. From May through November, trained surveyors visit selected backyard citrus trees each month to look for signs of ACP. This includes visual shoot inspections, where young flush growth is examined for adult psyllids, eggs, and the telltale curly white secretions left behind by nymphs. In addition, yellow sticky traps, a color particularly attractive to psyllids, are placed directly on backyard trees to capture psyllids monthly (Figure 3). Together, these monitoring methods help researchers better understand how populations change throughout the season.

A young citrus tree with lush green leaves and a yellow sticky trap hanging from a branch. — **Figure 3.** Sticky trap to monitor ACP in young residential citrus tree in Gadsden, FL.

How You Can Help

Protecting North Florida’s citrus industry requires cooperation from everyone who grows citrus, whether you manage a commercial grove, maintain a small backyard planting, or simply have a few citrus trees around your home. By allowing county Extension agents and researchers to monitor your trees throughout the growing season, you can play a direct role in helping detect ACP before it becomes more widespread.

Participation is simple and requires minimal effort on your part. Agents handle the shoot inspections and trap placement while your tree contributes valuable information to a regional early-detection network. Every tree included in the survey helps researchers better understand where ACP is present and how populations change over time. This information supports regional management decisions and helps identify potential problem areas before ACP and citrus greening disease become widespread. Early detection is one of the most effective tools for protecting North Florida’s citrus industry.

If you are interested in participating, contact your local UF/IFAS Extension office for more information. By allowing monitoring on your property, you can contribute directly to efforts aimed at safeguarding your operation and the future of citrus production across North Florida.

References

Exilien, R., Conover, D., Malfa, K., Strzyzewski, I., & Martini, X. 2025. Dynamics of citrus pest populations following a major freeze in northern Florida. Florida Entomologist 108(1): 20250013. https://doi.org/10.1515/flaent-2025-0013
University of Georgia (UGA). 2026. Citrus Greening in Georgia. UGA Citrus Blog. Accessed July 9, 2026. https://site.caes.uga.edu/citrus/citrus-greening-in-georgia/