They’re Back!? New Quarantine for Oriental Fruit Fly in California

According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), a portion of Orange County has been placed under quarantine for the oriental fruit fly following the detection of eight flies in and around the cities of Santa Ana and Garden Grove.  The quarantine zone measures 87-square miles, bordered on the north by Anaheim; on the south by John Wayne Airport; on the west by Huntington Beach; and on the east by State Highway 55.  This comes less than three months after CDFA announced multiple fruit fly invasions eradicated.

Following the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), agricultural officials use “male attractant” technique as the mainstay of the eradication effort for this invasive species.  This approach has successfully eliminated dozens of fruit fly infestations in California.  Trained workers apply a small patch of fruit fly attractant mixed with a very small dose of an organic pesticide, Spinosad, approximately 8 to 10 feet off the ground on street trees, power poles, street lights and similar surfaces; male fruit flies are attracted to the mixture and perish after consuming it. The male attractant treatment program is being carried out over an area that extends 1.5 miles from each site where the oriental fruit flies were trapped.

The oriental fruit fly is known to target more than 230 different fruit, vegetable, and plant commodities. Important California crops at risk include pome and stone fruits, citrus, dates, avocados, and many vegetables, particularly tomatoes and peppers. Damage occurs when the female fruit fly lays eggs inside the fruit.  The eggs hatch into maggots, which tunnel through the flesh of the fruit, making it unfit for consumption.

A link to the quarantine map can be found at cdfa.ca.gov.