Country: United States

Title: Anastrepha ludens (Mexican fruit fly) - Establishment of a Quarantine Area in Los Angeles, California - United States

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

Report: On December 22, 2008, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established a Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine area, after confirming the finding of a Mexfly population in the Azusa area of Los Angeles County, California. APHIS is applying restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from that area. These actions are necessary to prevent the spread of Mexfly to noninfested areas of the United States.

From December 3 through December 12, 2008, APHIS in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner, confirmed the detection of four adult Mexflies, including one mated female Mexfly, on four separate residential properties in the Azusa area. These detections triggered the establishment of this quarantine area. The quarantine area boundary encompasses approximately 70 square miles of Los Angeles County comprised of residential housing. The nearest commercial production area is approximately 15 miles away.

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 12.32-square-mile area surrounding detection sites. SIT is an eradicative tool which consists of the aerial release of sterile male Mexflies to inundate the detected wild population to reduce reproduction. Sterile male Mexflies are released at rate of 250,000 per square mile per week. The weekly release of sterile male Mexflies will continue through two projected Mexfly life cycles in the Azusa 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 Mexfly life cycle from the last detection date.

This action is effective immediately. This establishment of this 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  

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

Posted Date: Dec. 30, 2008, 9 a.m.