You can now order a vial of wasps to fight Florida's citrus greening problem

It is no longer just commercial citrus growers who can apply for vials of wasps to protect their fruit trees.

This year, for the first time, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will provide vials of wasps to Florida homeowners with citrus trees, the Gainesville Sun reports.

The wasps, called tamarixia, hunt the invasive Asian citrus psyllid that spreads the fatal bacteria that causes citrus greening.


State scientists hope releasing the wasps in smaller, urban settings will enable them to fly between neighboring properties.

According to the News Service of Florida, the 2016-2017 Florida citrus crop dipped by 16 percent from the previous season, which itself had been at a five-decade low, in part because of the citrus greening disease.

If you have citrus trees and you're considered about greening, you can apply here to have your own small vial of wasps sent to your home.