Federal and California officials have expanded a Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine in Los Angeles County and an Oriental fruit fly (OFF) quarantine in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. 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 expansion of both quarantine areas is reflected on the APHIS fruit fly website, which contains a description of all current federal fruit fly quarantine areas.
MEDFLY
The Medfly quarantine in the Leimert Park area of Los Angeles County was expanded on Dec. 5 and Dec. 8. This action is in response to the confirmed detection by CDFA of nine wild adult flies between Nov. 21 and Dec. 1 from traps in fruit trees in residential areas. As a result of these detections, the Leimert Park area quarantine increased by 43 square miles to 141 square miles. There is no commercial agriculture in the quarantine area.
APHIS and CDFA established the original Medfly quarantine on Oct. 18, and expanded the quarantine on Nov. 1, Nov. 7 and Nov. 15.
APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread of Medfly 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 commissioner of Los Angeles County to respond to these detections following program guidelines for survey, treatment, and regulatory actions.
OFF
The OFF quarantine in San Bernardino and Riverside counties was expanded on Nov. 28 and again on Dec. 5. This action is in response to the confirmed detections of adult flies from various trapping sites in the cities of Redlands, Riverside and San Bernardino. All detections were from traps in residential areas. As a result of these detections, the Redlands area quarantine increased by 198 square miles to 553 square miles. There are approximately 6,500 acres of commercial agricultural production in the quarantine area.
APHIS and CDFA established the original OFF quarantine on Sept. 27 and expanded it on Oct. 3, Oct. 12, Nov. 3, Nov. 9 and November 17.
APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread of OFF 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 San Bernardino and Riverside counties to respond to these detections following program guidelines for survey, treatment and regulatory actions.
More information about the Medfly and OFF quarantine areas may be obtained from APHIS Fruit Fly National Policy Manager Richard Johnson at richard.n.johnson@usda.gov or 301-851-2109.
Source: USDA APHIS