United States Department of Agriculture Asian Citrus Psyllid Marketing and Regulatory Control Program in the Programs Animal and Continental Plant Health Inspection Service United States and Puerto Rico Environmental Assessment August 2010 Asian Citrus Psyllid Control Program in the Continental United States and Puerto Rico Environmental Assessment August 2010 Agency Contact: Osama El-Lissy Director, Emergency Management Emergency and Domestic Programs Animal Plant Health Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture 4700 River Rd. Unit 134 Riverdale, MD 20737 __________________________________________________________ The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’S TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call (202) 720–5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. __________________________________________________________ Mention of companies or commercial products in this report does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture over others not mentioned. USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of any product mentioned. Product names are mentioned solely to report factually on available data and to provide specific information. __________________________________________________________ This publication reports research involving pesticides. All uses of pesticides must be registered by appropriate State and/or Federal agencies before they can be recommended. __________________________________________________________ CAUTION: Pesticides can be injurious to humans, domestic animals, desirable plants, and fish or other wildlife—if they are not handled or applied properly. Use all pesticides selectively and carefully. Follow recommended practices for the disposal of surplus pesticides and pesticide containers. Table of Contents I. Introduction ................................................................................... 1 A. Asian Citrus Psyllids ............................................................... 1 B. Citrus Greening ....................................................................... 2 C. Range of ACP and CG in the United States ........................... 4 D. Current ACP and CG Management Actions ........................... 5 E. Previous Environmental Documentation ............................. 10 II. Purpose and Need ........................................................................ 11 III. Affected Environment .................................................................. 13 IV. Alternatives ................................................................................... 13 A. No Action ............................................................................... 13 B. Cooperative Federal, State, and Industry ACP and CG Management Program ........................................................... 14 1. Strategy ............................................................................. 14 2. Surveys ............................................................................. 15 3. Diagnostics ....................................................................... 15 4. Public Education and Outreach ....................................... 15 5. Chemical Treatment for ACP ........................................... 16 6. Biological Control of ACP ................................................ 18 7. Quarantine ......................................................................... 18 V. Environmental Consequences..................................................... 18 A. No Action ................................................................................ 18 B. Cooperative Federal, State, and Industry ACP and CG Management Program ............................................................ 19 1. Survey, Identification and Diagnostics, Public Education and Outreach, and Strategy ........................... 19 2. Chemical Treatments for ACP Control ............................ 20 3. Biological Control ............................................................. 62 4. Quarantine ......................................................................... 62 C. Cumulative Effects ................................................................. 62 VI. Other Environmental Considerations .......................................... 65 A. Endangered Species .............................................................. 65 B. Executive Orders .................................................................... 65 C. National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 .......................... 67 VII. Listing of Agencies and Persons Consulted ............................... 68 VIII. References .................................................................................... 69 Appendix A. ACP and CG (Ca. L. asiaticus) Host Plants Appendix B. Positive ACP Counties and Temperature Suitability Map Appendix C. U.S. Counties with Commercial Citrus Production Appendix D. Affected Environment for the Proposed ACP Control Program I. Introduction Asian citrus psyllids (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, were first found in the United States in 1998. The psyllids are known to transmit a bacterium named Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Ca. L. asiaticus). Although not harmful to humans and animals, Ca. L. asiaticus causes Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening (CG) in citrus and its close relatives (e.g., limeberry and trifoliate orange). CG has resulted in extensive economic losses to the citrus production worldwide (NAS, 2010; Gottwald and Graham, 2008; and Norberg, 2008). Infected citrus orchards are usually destroyed or become unproductive in 5 to 8 years (Bové, 2006). In order to prevent the introduction and spread of CG into other citrus-growing areas, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has determined the need to control ACP. This environmental assessment (EA) will analyze the potential environmental impact of the proposed ACP control program. A. Asian Citrus Psyllids ACPs are small insects, 3 to 4 millimeters (1/8 to 1/6 inch) in length with brown mottled bodies and light brown heads. Their bodies are covered with a whitish, waxy secretion that makes them appear dusty (see figure 1). Adults may live for several months. Psyllids are most active when a plant has new growth. Adult psyllids commonly aggregate on young, tender plant tissue where they feed and mate. Fig. 1. Adult Asian citrus psyllid on a young citrus leaf. (Photo credit USDA–ARS–National Invasive Species Information Center, D. Hall. http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/animals/acp_child.shtml) After mating, female psyllids feed on flush (new, tender terminal branches) to produce mature eggs. Females may produce up to a maximum of 520 to 1,900 eggs (Husain and Nath, 1926; Pande, 1971; Liu 1 and Tsai, 2000; Tsai and Liu, 2000). Eggs are inserted into the leaf tissue inside the folds of unexpanded leaves, on the edges of young leaves, or at the base of leaf buds. There can be as many as 9 to 10 generations of psyllids a year. The immature stage of the psyllid, or nymph, is found on new growth and move in a slow, steady manner when disturbed. The adults leap when disturbed and may fly a short distance (Mead, 1977). Even without transmitting Ca. L. asiaticus, ACP can cause damage to host plants (see appendix A for a list of host plants). While feeding on plant fluids, toxins present in the ACPs’ saliva are injected into the plant. The toxins cause curling and distortion of young leaves; however, this damage is minimal compared to the damage caused by transmitting Ca. L. asiaticus. ACP can acquire Ca. L. asiaticus while feeding on host plants infected with the bacterium. After a latent period,1 the psyllid is able to transmit the pathogen to other host plants. Transmission of the pathogen is thought to occur through salivary secretions. ACP can carry and transmit Ca. L. asiaticus to host plants throughout its entire life. ACP can also transmit Ca. L. asiaticus to its offspring. B. Citrus Greening CG is considered to be one of the most serious citrus diseases in the world. The disease has been found in Africa, Asia, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, North America, and the Saudi Arabian Peninsula. CG attacks the vascular system of host plants. The pathogen is phloem-limited, inhibiting the food-conducting tissues of the host plant, and causes yellow shoots, asymmetrical chlorosis2 (referred to as blotchy mottle) (see figure 2), reduced foliage, small misshaped (see figure 3), bitter tasting fruit, fruit that remains green at one end after maturity (see figure 4) and tip dieback in citrus plants and their close relatives. Fig. 2. Sweet orange tree exhibiting blotchy mottle. (Photo credit Hilda Gomez, USDA) 1 An interval of time between exposure to the infection and subsequent consequences of infection. 2 Abnormal yellowing (or whitening) of green leaves. 2 Fig. 3. Misshaped mandarin fruit infected with CG disease.