The California Department of Food and Agriculture says it has placed a portion of Los Angeles County under quarantine for the Caribbean fruit fly following the detection of two adults in and around the city of Montebello.
The quarantine area in Los Angeles County measures 75 square miles, bordered on the north by the city of Alhambra; on the south by the city of Downey; on the west by the city of Huntington Park; and on the east by the city of South El Monte.
The Caribbean fruit fly has a wide range of hosts including apple, avocado, bell pepper, carambola, citrus, date palm, guava, kumquat, loquat, mango, papaya, peach, pear, pomegranate and tropical almond.
CDFA says the insect has a yellow-tan body with a black spot on the top of its thorax at the scutellum, and clear wings with a typical brown Anastrepha-type wing pattern with an “S” across the wing; it is about a third of an inch long.
Damage from fruit flies occurs when females lay eggs inside a fruit or vegetable. The eggs hatch into maggots and tunnel through the flesh of the produce, making it unfit for human consumption. CDFA has further information about this invasive species is available on its website.
The department says the state and the Los Angeles County agricultural commissioner will use a multi-tiered approach to eliminate the Caribbean fruit fly and prevent its spread. CDFA agricultural officials will hand remove Caribbean fruit fly host material of fruits and vegetables within 100 meters of detections to remove eggs and larvae in the area.
It also says staff will cut host fruit to inspect for any fruit fly larvae in homes within 200 meters of detections. Properties within 400 meters of detections will receive a treatment of an organically approved Spinosad to remove adults and reduce the density of populations.
Residents living in Caribbean fruit fly quarantine areas are encouraged not to move fruits and vegetables from the respective properties, consume fruits and vegetables at the property where they were picked and to dispose of any fruits and vegetables by double-bagging in plastic bags in the garbage bin for collection.
