By Jamie Martin
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has placed a 75-square-mile section of Los Angeles County under quarantine after detecting two adult Caribbean fruit flies in Montebello. The affected area stretches from Alhambra in the north to Downey in the south, Huntington Park to the west, and South El Monte to the east.
The Caribbean fruit fly is an invasive pest with a broad host range including avocados, figs, citrus, peaches, pears, and tomatoes. To prevent further spread, residents within the quarantine area are urged not to transport fruits or vegetables off their property. Produce should be consumed, processed, or securely double-bagged and disposed of in household garbage bins.
Working under Integrated Pest Management (IPM) protocols, CDFA and Los Angeles County officials are implementing layered control measures. Host fruits within 100 meters of the detection site will be removed, and within 200 meters, fruit will be cut open to check for larvae. At 400 meters, a naturally derived organic treatment called Spinosad will be applied to eliminate adult flies.
Female Caribbean fruit flies pose serious risk by laying eggs inside fruit, which hatch into larvae that damage produce. The pest often arrives in California through illegally imported fruits carried by travelers or mailed packages.
Officials urge residents not to bring or mail fresh produce into the state and to visit www.dontpackapest.com for prevention tips. This proactive collaboration between federal, state, and county agencies seeks to protect California’s agriculture, natural ecosystems, and food supply from invasive pest threats.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-shotbydave
Categories: National