Emergency Citrus Program Targets Spread of HLB in Orange County

What’s Happening?

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has declared an emergency response program for parts of Orange County, including Cypress, following confirmed detections of Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) and huanglongbing (HLB) in nearby cities between March and April 2025.

HLB is a deadly citrus disease with no cure and poses a serious threat to both agricultural and residential citrus trees. It spreads quickly through ACP, a small insect that feeds on citrus leaves and stems.

The City of Cypress falls within the emergency program area, which includes all properties located within a 5-mile radius of confirmed HLB-positive plants.

What Are the Symptoms?

Symptoms of HLB include:

• Yellowing shoots with mottled or blotchy leaves

• Misshapen fruit that may not fully ripen

• Fruit with a bitter, sour, or metallic taste

These symptoms may not appear until 2 to 5 years after infection, making the disease difficult to detect early and easy to spread unknowingly.

How It Affects Residents

If you have citrus trees, you may receive a written notice from CDFA regarding:

• Twice-yearly inspections of your trees

• Voluntary or mandatory pesticide treatments depending on proximity to detection sites

• Removal of infected trees, if necessary

Program Duration

The emergency program is in effect through April 4, 2027, allowing CDFA time to monitor and control the spread of HLB within the designated area.

Think your Tree may be Affected?

Call the Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899

 For more information, click HERE.