Experts See Whitefly as Peril to Crops

Since North America’s first ash whitefly was spotted in Van Nuys in July, the pest has spread into at least three other Southern California counties and could threaten deciduous fruit groves in the Central Valley if not checked by next summer, agriculture officials say.

“If it gets up there, the industry is going to become very, very interested,” predicted Bob Atkins, deputy Los Angeles County agriculture commissioner.

Agricultural specialists from several counties, universities and government agencies met on the problem two weeks ago and discussed the need for money to provide research as well as natural predators able to bring the whiteflies to a standstill.

So far, Atkins said Friday, “I have not heard of any agency saying, ‘Yes.’ ”