California state agricultural officials have declared an end to the Mediterranean fruit fly quarantine in Los Angeles County following the eradication of this invasive pest.
The Mediterranean fruit fly quarantine is expiring nearly nine months after officials first detected populations in the Leimert Park neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles. Officials established a quarantine encompassing the cities of Inglewood, Hawthorne and parts of Culver City.
“Last year, California experienced an unusually high population of invasive fruit flies, and the response required coordination from residents, agricultural industry members and agricultural commissioners in both counties,” said Victoria Hornbaker, director of CDFA’s Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services Division. “Through this coordination, we’re incredibly proud to have successfully achieved the eradication of several species of invasive fruit flies in Southern California – including Mediterranean, Queensland and Tau – but the threat is never completely gone.”
Thanks to the cooperation and diligence of California residents and local agricultural officials, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), working in coordination with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner, and Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner, has declared an end to the Mediterranean and Queensland fruit fly quarantines in Southern California following the eradication of the two invasive species.
The Mediterranean fruit fly quarantine ended nearly nine months after officials first detected populations in the Leimert Park neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles. Officials established a quarantine encompassing the cities of Inglewood, Hawthorne and parts of Culver City.
The Queensland fruit fly was detected in the city of Thousand Oaks last October and led to the first-ever quarantine established for this invasive species in the Western Hemisphere. The quarantine encompassed the areas around Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and Santa Rosa Valley in Ventura County and Agoura Hills and Westlake Village in Los Angeles County.
Crops that are hosts for the Mediterranean and Queensland fruit flies — which include more than 300 host varieties, such as citrus and other fruits, nuts, vegetables, and berries — were not allowed to be moved from properties where they were grown during the quarantine phases. Commercial host crops were required to meet stringent treatment or processing standards before being harvested or moved.
While several invasive fruit fly quarantines have now been lifted in California, one active Oriental fruit fly quarantine remains, which could continue to threaten the state’s natural environment, agriculture and economy.
Kristin Skiba
