Country: United States

Title: Bactrocera dorsalis (Oriental fruit fly) – New regulated areas in the Anaheim area of Orange County and the Cerritos-Artesia area of Los Angeles County, California

Contact:
John Stewart, National Policy Manager at (919) 855-7426

Report: Effective August 1, 2013, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in coordination with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), established a new oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) regulated area in the Anaheim area of Orange County and the Cerritos-Artesia area of Los Angeles County, California. APHIS took this action in response to the detection of oriental fruity fly (OFF) larvae found on July 31 and subsequent OFF detections.

APHIS is working with CDFA and the Agricultural Commissioner of Orange and Los Angeles Counties to respond to these detections following program survey and treatment protocols. In addition, APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from these areas. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of OFF to non-infested areas of the United States. To date, APHIS has detected 92 adult OFF and 9 larvae in Orange County and 19 adult OFF in the Los Angeles County portion of the quarantine. Eighty-four of the adult OFF and the 9 larvae in Orange County came from one residential site in the Anaheim area.

OFF is known to target more than 230 fruit, vegetable, and plant commodities. Damage occurs when the female lays eggs inside the fruit. The eggs hatch into maggots that tunnel through the flesh of the fruit, making the fruit unfit for consumption.

The establishment of this regulated area is reflected on the following designated website, which contains a description of all the current Federal fruit fly regulated areas:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/fruit_flies/quarantine.shtml

Under IPPC standards, Bactrocera dorsalis is considered to be a pest that is transient, actionable, and under eradication in the United States.
 

Posted Date: Sept. 17, 2013, 9 a.m.