Alerts for Organics Recycling Programs

Pests/Threats Which Affect Green Material Movement in California

This page presents ongoing issues with the potential to impact California organics recycling programs and markets. It also provides links to resources and background information on each topic.

California's diverse trees and crops are continually open to attack by imported pests. Frequently, plant damage is avoided by the application of a wide spectrum of chemicals. The pest or chemicals used to control it can potentially end up in outside-collected green material.

• Asian Citrus Psyllid
• European Grapevine Moth
• Light Brown Apple Moth
• Sudden Oak Death
• Lerp Psyllid
• Bark Beetle

Ongoing Issues

Asian Citrus Psyllid is an aphid-like insect that feeds on the leaves and stems of citrus trees and other citrus-like plants and can be a carrier of a deadly bacterial tree disease called Huanglongbing, or "Citrus Greening Disease." The disease kills citrus trees within a few years following transmission and poses a significant threat to California's citrus industry.

Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties are currently under a State Interior Quarantine. Please contact the Agricultural Commissioner of the county in question before attempting to move any green material. To find the Agricultural Commissioner in your county, visit the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) website.

Asian Citrus Psyllid Videos, California Department of Food and Agriculture (Play the English or Spanish video below or from the YouTube site using the link provided.)

Protect Your Trees From the Asian Citrus Psyllid, 31 seconds. You Tube.

Proteja sus árboles de el psilido asiático de los citricos, 31 segundo. You Tube.

European Grapevine Moth is found in southern Asia, Europe, North Africa, Anatolia, Caucasus and South America. The pest primarily damages grapes, but has also feeds on various crops and plants.

Fresno, Mendocino, Merced, Napa, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma counties are currently under a a State Interior Quarantine. Please contact the Agricultural Commissioner of the county in question before attempting to move any green material. To find the Agricultural Commissioner in your county, visit the CDFA website.

Light Brown Apple Moth is an insect native to Australia. It is a pest of concern because it feeds on agricultural produce and damages a wide variety of plants (more than 2,000 species). Some of the plants it affects are roses, chrysanthemums, jasmine, and clover, as well as eucalyptus, poplar, and pine trees.

Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Sacramento, San Benito, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and Yolo counties are currently under a a State Interior Quarantine. Please contact the Agricultural Commissioner of the county in question before attempting to move any green material. To find the Agricultural Commissioner in your county, visit the CDFA website.

Sudden Oak Death is a disease that has caused the death of large numbers of oaks and tanoaks, mostly in the coastal counties of California. In recent years, the cause was identified as a new plant pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum. Many species of nursery stock are now known to be susceptible to Phytophthora ramorum.

Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma counties are currently under a a State Interior Quarantine. Please contact the Agricultural Commissioner of the county in question before attempting to move any green material. To find the Agricultural Commissioner in your county, visit the CDFA website.

Lerp Psyllid has severely impacted the red gum eucalyptus. Vast numbers of eucalyptus trees died in Southern California because of heavy infestations of these small, sucking insects. Especially hard hit by the lerp psyllid are red gum trees in Los Angeles County and counties on the southern coast of California. Biological controls are now being established to reduce the lerp psyllid populations and render the situation manageable. If you observe eucalyptus trees being chipped and the material piled nearby, rest assured that this is probably the best option for this pest situation.

Bark Beetle infestations, coupled with California's recent multi-year drought exacerbated the fire risk because of abnormally high tree deaths in Southern California's regional forests. This insect has plagued more than 500,000 acres in Southern California's regional forests. Bark beetle infestations in Northern California also are of concern because of the associated fire risk, but these infestations involve significantly less acreage.

Pesticide/Herbicide Residues in Compost