In spite of repreated chemical control against it, it attained explosive population levels and gradually spread to other citrus-growing areas of the island. [...] The damage caused by the JBW is mostly indirect through the excretion of honey-dew by the immature stages. The honeydew covers the leaves, supports the growth of sooty mold and mixes with airborne dust toform a crust which hinders photosynthesis and respiration of the tree. Direct damage through the extraction of sap from the leaves is significant only at extremely high densities (Orphanides 1991).