Federal and state officials have expanded Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata; Medfly), Zeugodacus tau fruit fly and Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni; QFF) quarantines in California. The actions were taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). The Medfly and tau fruit fly quarantines in Los Angeles County were expanded Nov. 15. The QFF quarantine in Ventura and Los Angeles counties was expanded Nov. 21.
MEDFLY
The expansion of the Medfly quarantine is in response to the confirmed detection of an unmated female Medfly by CDFA on Nov. 8 from a trap in an avocado tree in a residential area. As a result of this detection, the Leimert Park area quarantine increased by 8 square miles to 98 square miles. APHIS and CDFA established the original Medfly quarantine on Oct. 18 following the confirmed detection of two flies in the Leimert Park area on Sept. 27. They expanded the quarantine on Nov. 1 and Nov. 7 following detections of additional flies. There is no commercial agriculture in the quarantine area.
TAU FRUIT FLY
The expansion of the Tau fruit fly quarantine is in response to the confirmed detection of two adult male Z. tau by CDFA on Nov. 4 from traps in ornamental trees in residential areas. As a result of these detections, the Stevenson Ranch area quarantine increased by 18 square miles to 128 square miles.
APHIS and CDFA established the original Z. tau quarantine on July 11 following the confirmed detection of nine flies in the Stevenson Ranch area between June 7 and July 6. They expanded the quarantine on Aug. 15, Sept. 14 and Oct. 3 following detections of additional flies. There is no commercial agriculture in the quarantine area.
QUEENSLAND FRUIT FLY
The expansion of the QFF quarantine is in response to the confirmed detection of an adult male QFF by CDFA on Nov. 13 from a trap in an ornamental tree in a residential area. As a result of this detection, the Thousand Oaks area quarantine increased by 14 square miles to 90 square miles. APHIS and CDFA established the original QFF quarantine on Oct. 18 following the confirmed detection of two flies in the Thousand Oaks area on Aug. 23 and Oct. 9. There are a total of 3,379 acres of commercial citrus, avocado, stone fruits and berries in the quarantine area.
APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread of the fruit flies to non-infested areas of the United States, as well as to prevent the entry of these fruit flies into foreign trade. APHIS is working with CDFA and the agricultural commissioners of Los Angeles and Ventura counties to respond to these detections following program guidelines.
These quarantine expansions are reflected on the APHIS fruit fly website.
Source: USDA APHIS