The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the California Department of Food and Agriculture have expanded the quarantine for Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) in the state’s San Bernadino and Riverside counties.
The agencies said in a news release that adult flies were confirmed in various trapping sites in residential areas of Redlands, Riverside and San Bernadino. Based on the trappings and the findings proximity to 6,500 acres of commercial agriculture production, APHIS and CDFA increased the area of the Redlands quarantine by 198 square miles to now encompass 553 square miles.
According to the release, the agencies initiated the original quarantine area Sept. 27 and expanded it Oct. 3, Oct. 12, Nov. 3, Nov. 9 and Nov. 17.
More information on the quarantine area is available at the APHIS fruit fly website.
APHIS said the Oriental fruit fly can feed on more than 400 fruits and vegetables, such as apricots, cherries, citrus, figs, peaches, pears, plums and tomatoes.
