The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) have expanded the Santa Clara Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine area three times over the past month, now extending into parts of Alameda County and covering a larger area of Santa Clara County.

The first expansion occurred on September 29, following the confirmed detections on September 17 of three wild mated female Medflies from traps in a persimmon tree and an orange tree at residential properties in San Jose. The quarantine was increased by 2 square miles (5.2 square kilometres) and included 1 acre (0.4 hectares) of commercial agriculture.

The second expansion took place on October 2 in response to the confirmed detection on September 23 of one wild mated female Medfly in an orange tree on a residential property in San Jose. This action added 21 square miles (54.4 square kilometres) and included 3 acres (1.2 hectares) of commercial agriculture.

The most recent expansion occurred on October 8, following the detection on September 29 of one wild, unmated female Medfly from a trap in a peach tree at another residential property in San Jose. This addition covered 4 square miles (10.4 square kilometres) and did not include additional commercial agricultural areas.

The updated quarantine now covers 196 square miles (507.6 square kilometres) and includes 47 acres (19 hectares) of commercial agriculture, encompassing grape, olive, orange, pepper, stone fruit, and tomato production areas.

APHIS has implemented safeguarding measures and movement restrictions on regulated materials to prevent the spread of the Mediterranean fruit fly to uninfested regions of the United States and to avoid export complications. The agency is coordinating with CDFA and the agricultural commissioners of Alameda and Santa Clara counties to carry out surveys, treatments, and regulatory measures in line with established program guidelines.

Source: APHIS / Citrus Industry




Frontpage photo: © APHIS



Publication date:

Mon 27 Oct 2025