Fruit fly quarantines lifted in Southern California

The agricultural commissioners of Los Angeles and Ventura counties declared the end of the Quarantines due to the invasion of the Mediterranean and Queensland fruit flies in Southern California.

In a statement, officials said that The eradication of the two invasive species was achieved thanks to the cooperation and diligence of Southern California residents and the coordination of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Mediterranean fruit fly quarantine It ended almost nine months since authorities first detected specimens of the insect in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.

A quarantine was established that covered the cities of Inglewood, Hawthorne and parts of Culver City.

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The Queensland fruit fly It was detected in the city of Thousand Oaks in October 2023which triggered the first quarantine established for this invasive species in the Western Hemisphere.

The quarantine covered areas around Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and the Santa Rosa Valleyin Ventura County, and in Agoura Hills and Westlake Village, in Los Angeles County.

Among the actions applied to crops attacked by both species of fruit fly, which are more than 300, They were not allowed to move off the properties where they were grown during the quarantine phases.

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Commercial crops that harbored fruit flies were required to meet strict treatment standards or processing before being harvested or transported.

“Last year, California experienced an unusually high population of invasive fruit flies and the response required coordination between residents, members of the agricultural industry and the Agricultural Commissioners of both counties,” said CDFA Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services Division Director Victoria Hornbaker.

“Through this coordination, we are incredibly proud to have Successfully eradicated several species of invasive fruit flies in Southern Californiaincluding the Mediterranean, Queensland and Tau, but the threat never completely goes away,” he added.

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There is still an active quarantine, for the Oriental fruit fly in the Redlands and Riverside County area.

It is important to remember that The threat of introduction of invasive fruit flies remainsAs summer progresses and vacationers continue with their travel plans, agriculture officials advised residents to take precautions and stay alert for signs of invasive pests.

To help prevent future invasions, residents should:

• Cooperate with agricultural officials and allow them access to your garden to set traps, inspect plants, perform necessary treatments or remove potentially infested produce.
• Determine if your property is located within an active quarantine area by visiting this link.
• Buy fruit trees and vegetable plants from licensed California nurseries. Purchasing produce from uncertified sources can spread invasive pests. Source your plants locally and responsibly. To find a licensed nursery near you, you can visit this link.
• Inspect your yard for signs of invasive fruit flies or grubs and report any findings to CDFA at 1-800-491-1899.
• When entering the United States from another country, avoid bringing agricultural products, including fruits or vegetables.
• Help us protect our agricultural and natural resources and California’s unique biodiversity from invasive fruit flies by following the “Don’t Pack a Pest” initiative when traveling or sending or receiving packages through the mail.

For more information information on invasive species and how to protect the county’s fruits and vegetables, you can visit this link.

Fruit fly bans lifted in California

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