Two peach fruit flies were found in Palm Beach County, Fla., on successive days earlier this month, the second time the pest — which has dozens of fruit and vegetable host plants — has been found in the state.
The male fruit flies were found in detection traps, one on May 9 in Lake Worth and the second one on May 10 about 1.25 miles away, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Previously, the only other find was in November 2010 in Miami-Dade County.
Natural field infestations have been recorded on at least 54 different host plants, including the common guava, avocado, mango, peach, apple, okra, papaya and sweet orange, according to a news release from the state agriculture department.
While the peach fruit fly is widespread in south Asia from Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka to southeast Asian countries including Thailand and Vietnam, it is not established in the U.S., according to the release. It has been found in California numerous times since 1984, and an eradication program was conducted in 2013.
