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A female Caribbean fruit fly Anastrepha suspensa<\/p>\n
Photo courtesy California Department of Food and Agriculture <\/p>\n
East Los Angeles\u2014State officials have imposed a quarantine over parts of southeast Los Angeles County, including East Los Angeles,\u00a0 after two Caribbean fruit flies were found in and around Montebello \u2014 the first detection of the invasive pest in California since 1985.<\/p>\n
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The 75-square-mile quarantine area includes portions of Montebello, Alhambra, Downey, Huntington Park and South El Monte, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Caribbean fruit fly poses a serious threat to crops such as avocados, citrus, figs, peaches, pears and tomatoes. State officials are urging residents within the quarantine zone not to move homegrown fruits or vegetables off their properties. Produce can be eaten or processed at home \u2014 such as juiced, cooked, or frozen \u2014 but should otherwise be double-bagged and thrown in the trash.<\/p>\n
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Agricultural crews will remove host fruit and vegetables within 100 meters of the detection sites and inspect fruit within 200 meters for larvae. Properties up to 400 meters away will be treated with a natural insecticide made from Spinosad to kill any remaining adult flies.<\/p>\n
Damage occurs when fruit flies lay eggs inside produce; larvae then tunnel through the flesh, making it inedible. The pests often arrive in California by \u201chitchhiking\u201d in fruits or vegetables brought in illegally by travelers or mailed from infested regions.<\/p>\n
Officials reminded residents not to bring or ship fresh fruit, vegetables, or plants into the state without inspection approval.<\/p>\n
More information is available at dontpackapest.com<\/a> and on the CDFA\u2019s Caribbean fruit fly page<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n