SAN DIEGO -- The citrus psyllid is small, but its power is big.

Experts said the pest has the potential to devastate part of San Diego's agriculture business and the back yards of county residents.

Growers from around North America and Central America were in San Diego to discuss possible solutions to its spread.

The microscopic citrus psyllid carries and spreads a disease called greening that has devastated citrus crops in Florida and was discovered in San Diego last year.

"The greening that is spread throughout the state will eliminate the citrus industry from California and it will also eliminate the ability to grow trees in your back yard," said Ted Batkin of the Citrus Research Board.

So far, no commercial groves in San Diego have been affected, but growers from the U.S., Mexico and Belize met in San Diego Tuesday to discuss where the disease has been spotted, its industry crippling capabilities and the solutions to stopping its spread dead in its tracks.

Commercial growers know what to look for, but residents with citrus in their back yards are advised to look for it about once a month.

"It's a little tiny pest, and it almost needs a magnifying glass to see it. It looks like a black spot which will show up on the new flush when a citrus tree starts putting out new growth, at the tips of the branches; that's where you'll find it," said Batkin.

Residents who spot any signs of greening are being asked to contact the San Diego County's Agriculture Office by visiting www.sdcounty.ca.gov/awm.