Country: United States

Title:

Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean Fruit Fly): APHIS Establishes Quarantine Area in Devore, San Bernardino County, California

Contact:
Richard Johnson, Fruit Fly National Policy Manager, at 301-851-2109.

Report:

Effective October 15, 2019, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) established a Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine area in Devore, San Bernardino County, California. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement or entry into foreign trade of regulated articles from this area. 

This action is in response to the confirmation of one male and one unmated female Medfly from Devore, California, by CDFA, on October 8, 2019. CDFA subsequently confirmed one male Medfly on October 9 and one mated female on October 11, 2019, from the vicinity of the first detections. On October 12, 2019, program staff detected 68 Medfly larvae from peach and pear fruit. Program staff confirmed one unmated female Medfly on October 22, 2019. All detections have been from a residential area. There is no commercial agricultural production in the quarantine area. Currently, the quarantine area encompasses 93 square miles. 

APHIS is working with CDFA and the San Bernardino County Agricultural Commissioner to respond to these detections following program survey and treatment protocols. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of Medflies to non-infested areas of the United States.

The following website reflects the establishment of this quarantine area and a description of all the current Federal fruit fly quarantine areas:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/ff-quarantine

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. 18, 2019, 8:55 a.m.