The bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter (aka yellow dragon) is jeopardizing  more than 520,000 hectares (1,285 acres) of Mexico’s citrus trees.

Federal officials said symptoms were detected in Colima, Nayarit and Michoacán.  The disease has appeared in Nuevo Leon and threatens states from Tamaulipas to San Luis Potosi.

Mexico is the fourth largest producer of citrus.