Serious Pest Found In California’s Kern County

Five melon fruit flies were found found south of Lamont, according to Kern County’s Department of Agriculture and Measurements Standards. The pest, native to Asia, feeds on 100-plus different plants, many of which are found in the county. Officials will be setting up a 4.5-mile buffer zone around the area and will restrict the movement of some fruits and vegetables out of the quarantine area.

“While we have highly trained biologists working diligently to prevent exotic insect pests from coming into Kern County, we still need the public’s help in preventing the introduction of pests,” said Ruben Arroyo, county agricultural commissioner.

source: bakersfieldnow.com