The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is preparing a treatment programme for the Oriental fruit fly in the North Highlands area of Sacramento Country, following the discovery of a trapped, mated female fly.
According to the CDFA, the treatment programme will be carried out over an area of around 12.3 square miles surrounding the site where the insect was trapped, while a quarantine will begin to restrict the movement of plants and related materials.
'Fruit flies are a serious threat to our state's crops, and also to our environment and our backyard gardens,' said CDFA secretary A.G. Kawamura. 'Fortunately we have a system in place to detect them quickly and take action before they can cause widespread damage.
'We urge Californians who travel abroad not to bring back fruits, vegetables, seeds or other prohibited plant material,' Kawamura said. 'Every invasive species we can keep out saves our state money, reduces pesticide use and protects our environment and food supply.'
The Oriental fruit fly targets over 230 different fruits, vegetables and plant commodities, and will be treated using the 'male attractant' control process.
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