Where they are found together, HLB (otherwise known as Huanglongbing or Citrus greening) and the psyllid represent the most extreme pest threat to commercial production.

While Australia is so-far free of HLB disease and the Asian citrus psyllid, the Citrus Australia chief executive officer Judith Damiani said a discovery of the insect and/or HLB could be just a matter of time.

With both prevalent through many parts of Asia, including near neighbours to Australia’s north, growers and the broader community needed to be on high alert.

She said the best approach for the Australian industry was to be aware of the risks.

“Being an island country, we’ve been very lucky in not having many serious pests or diseases. And we’ve had very strict quarantine to help. But the devastating Citrus canker outbreak at Emerald (now eradicated) was a wakeup.”