Sterile Insect Technique (SIT)

A tiny insect called the Asian Citrus Psyllid threatens California's citrus trees. Researchers from UC Riverside are testing a safe, chemical-free way to control it—and we'd like you to understand how it works.

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) spreads a disease called citrus greening, or Huanglongbing (HLB), that kills citrus trees. The disease has already wiped out more than 80% of Florida's citrus, and infected trees have been found in residential neighborhoods in Southern California.The only way to stop HLB is to control the psyllid that carries it. Doing so will ensure your backyard trees continue to provide fruit and shade for years to come, but also safeguards California’s citrus industry, a cornerstone of the state's economy and culture.

Every sterilized psyllid is first reared to adult on a plant that cannot carry the HLB bacterium - as adults, they cannot effectively pick up and pass on the disease. Click on the links below for more information: