Distribution of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Rhynchota: Psyllidae) in the Caribbean Basin

Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Rhynchota: Psyllidae), originally is from Asia but has been known in the Western Hemisphere for several decades. In 1998, it was discovered for the first time in the Caribbean Basin both in Guadeloupe and in Florida. Since then, it has spread widely among islands and adjacent mainland countries, including the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico, and Texas (USA). Additionally, there were interceptions of D. citri from St. Thomas and Belize. In Asia, D. citri primarily causes damage to citrus as a result of transmission of the pathogens that cause citrus greening disease. In July 2004, as this paper was going to press, citrus greening disease was reported in Brazil by Fundecitrus. This is the first credible report of the disease in the Western Hemisphere.