CDFA acts quickly to contain Caribbean fruit fly threat
A portion of Los Angeles County has been placed under quarantine after the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) confirmed the detection of two Caribbean fruit flies (CFFs) in and around Montebello. The quarantine covers 75 square miles bordered by Alhambra to the north, Downey to the south, Huntington Park to the west, and South El Monte to the east.
The Caribbean fruit fly is a significant threat to California’s agricultural sector, with hosts including avocados, figs, citrus, peaches, pears, and tomatoes. To stop its spread, residents in the quarantine zone are advised not to move homegrown fruits and vegetables off their property. Produce should be eaten, processed, or double-bagged before disposal in household garbage bins.
Following Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles, the CDFA, in cooperation with Los Angeles County officials, is using a three-step eradication plan. Within 100 meters of detected sites, officials will remove all host materials. Within 200 meters, they will inspect cut fruit for larvae, and within 400 meters, they will apply Spinosad, a naturally derived organic material effective against adult flies.
Female fruit flies damage produce by laying eggs inside fruits and vegetables. The resulting larvae tunnel through the flesh, rendering the crop inedible.
Authorities remind residents that invasive species often enter the state hidden in fruits and vegetables carried by travelers or shipped from infested regions. Officials urge everyone to avoid transporting produce into California and to visit www.dontpackapest.com for more information. These combined federal, state, and county efforts aim to protect California’s farms, natural environment, and biodiversity from harmful pests.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-shotbydave