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YUMA, N.M. (AP) - A quarantine area in western Arizona is being expanded by state agriculture officials who are trying to prevent the spread of an insect that carries a disease that kills citrus plants.

The quarantine on moving uncertified citrus plants was imposed in southwestern Yuma County after the Department of Agriculture detected the Asian citrus psyllid in San Luis in October 2009.

Since then, a statewide trapping program has found the insects in only isolated instances.

However, multiple detections in the Lake Havasu City area in January has prompted the state to expand the quarantine to an area around the Mohave County community.

The Yuma Sun reports that the department is asking the public to buy citrus only from inspected and certified nursery stock for home planting.