One Asian psyllid, the citrus killer, found in Porterville

A single Asian citrus psyllid insect has been found in a trap in Porterville, the Tulare County Agriculture Department said Tuesday.

The trap was on a tree in a residential area near West Pioneer and North Newcomb streets. Since January 2012 in Tulare County, the insect has been detected 64 times.

The Porterville find may be a “hitchhiker” from Southern California, staff biologist Dennis Haines said. Inspectors will set up more traps and look for additional insects.

The Asian citrus psyllid can carry a virus causing citrus greening disease in which infected trees die.

The disease, also called huanglongbing or HLB, has been found in several trees in Southern California. It has not been found in the San Joaquin Valley.

Much of Tulare County is under a quarantine in which moving citrus out of the area is banned for backyard trees and restricted for commercial growers.

This story was originally published March 2, 2016 at 11:59 AM with the headline "One Asian psyllid, the citrus killer, found in Porterville."