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2023-01-28T08:10:00.0000000Z
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Infectious insect tears through Israel, putting the citrus industry at risk
The Jerusalem Post
By BOAZ EDIDIN P
The Asian citrus psyllid, the insect vector of bacterium that spreads Huanglongbing disease (HLB), the most destructive citrus greening disease, has begun to spread in Israel, putting the country’s flourishing citrus industry at further risk.
The invasive species was initially identified in the Hefer Valley area near Netanya by the Plant Protection Services Laboratories of the Ministry of Agriculture in July 2021. The traceable lesion spanned 750 dunams of citrus groves in the area.
The source of the outbreak’s initial penetration into the country is still unknown. The Ministry of Agriculture hypothesizes that the likely culprit was unregulated citrus that was smuggled into the country.