A new citrus pest could further damage a South African citrus industry already suffering after a protracted transport workers strike in the country.
The woolly white fly was first identified in South Africa on the Western Cape coast and in April its presence in the country was officially recognised by the International Plant Protection Convention, a body that protects crops and plants from invasive pests.
Woolly white fly first appeared in the Eastern Cape's western region a year ago and so far has only been seen near the coast and only on domestic garden trees, the Weekend Post reported.
Sean Moore, programme manager with Citrus Research International said it was not clear how the pest had come to be in South Africa, as the country imports very little citrus, although je noted the fly can attach to other plants.
Mr Moore believes that as long as it can be restricted to non-commercial trees, there was hope of stopping the pest.
'The message to the public is please do not take any seedlings from your garden citrus trees into commercial citrus areas. In the Eastern Cape, these are in the Sundays River Valley, the Gamtoos River Valley and the Kat River Valley, as well as around Cookhouse,' he said.
South African scientists are now investigating natural control methods for the pest, such as a predator, usually a wasp, which feeds on the fly.
