Country: United States

Title: Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fruit fly) – Establishment of a Quarantine Area in San Diego, California - United States

Contact:
Wayne Burnett, Domestic Coordinator, Fruit Fly Exclusion and Detection Programs, (301) 734-4387

Report: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the finding of a Mediterranean fruit fly population in the El Cajon area of San Diego County, California. APHIS is designating portions of San Diego County as a Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine area and is applying restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from that area. These actions are necessary to prevent the spread of Medfly to noninfested areas of the United States.

From November 7 through November 21, 2008, APHIS, in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the San Diego County Agricultural Commissioner, confirmed the detection of thirteen adult Medflies on eight separate residential properties in the El Cajon area. Also, one Medfly larva was also detected on a separate residential property in the El Cajon area. These detections triggered the establishment of this quarantine area. The quarantine area encompasses approximately 107 square miles mostly comprised of residential homes with few commercial avocado, orange and grape producers.

Fruit fly traps have been deployed at protocol levels to conduct a delimitation survey surrounding the detection sites. The population control treatment, known as sterile insect technique (SIT), is being conducted in a 20.96 square mile area surrounding detection sites. SIT is an eradicative tool which consists of the aerial release of sterile male Medflies to inundate the detected wild population to reduce reproduction. Sterile male Medflies are released at rate of 250,000 per square mile per week. The weekly release of sterile male Medflies will continue through two projected Medfly life cycles in the El Cajon area from the last detection date. In addition to SIT, spinosad foliar bait spray treatments are being applied to all host trees within 200 meters of the detection sites at 7 to 10 day intervals. Spinosad foliar bait sprays will continue through one projected Medfly life cycle from the last detection date.

This action is effective immediately and the quarantine area will be reflected on the following designated website, which contains a description of all the current Federal fruit fly quarantine areas: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/fruit_flies/index.shtml  

APHIS anticipates following this action with the publication of a notice in the Federal Register informing the public of this change.

Under IPPC Standards, Ceratitis capitata is considered to be a pest that is transient, actionable, and under eradication in the United States.
 

Posted Date: Dec. 2, 2008, 9 a.m.