Citrus Greening Disease (Huanglongbing) in Florida: Economic Impact, Management and the Potential for Biological Control

This review focuses on the impact of citrus greening disease in the state of Florida and provides information to develop an economic analysis of pest management options for the control of this disease. In doing so, we review the history, evolution and severity of citrus greening in Florida with particular emphasis on the management alternatives to combat this disease, including increased use of pesticides and classical biological control. We also discuss the institutional framework that has been set up by the state and federal agencies and the citrus industry to slow the spread of citrus greening. While the use of classical biological control for citrus psyllid has not been as successful as some other biological control programs, its implementation fits well in a mixed strategy management plan to control this disease.