California agriculture officials have issued a quarantine in part of San Diego County after Mexican fruit flies were discovered during a routine inspection, warning that the invasive pest can damage a wide range of crops.
San Diego areas placed under quarantine after Mexican fruit fly discovery
Authorities with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) said the quarantine zone covers about 77 square miles. The area is bordered by the San Diego River to the north, Sweetwater Reservoir to the south, Interstate 15 to the west, and the city of El Cajon to the east.
The quarantine affects several communities, including El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, San Diego, and Santee, as well as the communities of Spring Valley and Bonita.
The quarantine applies to growers, wholesalers, retailers and nurseries that handle fruit or plants within the affected area. Officials are also urging home gardeners not to move any homegrown produce outside their property.
Eradication measures announced
The CDFA said several steps will be taken to eliminate the pest.
Sterile male Mexican fruit flies will be released throughout the quarantine zone. When these sterile males mate with fertile females in the wild, no offspring are produced. As wild flies reach the end of their natural life cycle without producing new generations, the population gradually declines until the infestation is eliminated.
Properties located within about 650 feet of sites where flies were detected will also be treated with an organic spinosad-based formula derived from naturally occurring bacteria.
In locations where larvae or flies are found, fruit will be removed within about 330 feet of the detection site to help prevent further spread.
Why the pest is a concern
According to state officials, the Mexican fruit fly is larger than a common housefly and can infest more than 50 types of fruits and vegetables. The species poses a major threat to California’s agricultural exports, the local food supply and backyard orchards.
Authorities say the invasive pest often enters the United States through fruits or vegetables illegally brought in by travelers.
