October 11, 2007

County begins fruit fly eradication

Two Oriental fruit flies were trapped recently in southern Santa Clara County. Both were found in the same trap in a rural residential neighborhood northwest of Gilroy. The identification of the insects was confirmed by California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). According to state protocol, the trapping of the two flies will result in an emergency proclamation by the California Secretary of Agriculture authorizing immediate implementation of an eradication program.

The eradication program began on Saturday, Oct. 6, and will involve the technique of “male annihilation” using ground-based, spot applications of insecticide and pheromone lure. This mixture is applied as small, dollar-sized spots on inanimate objects such as street trees and utility poles. Because of the lure, the male fruit flies are attracted to these spots and die from feeding on the mixture. The treatments are applied at heights that are typically inaccessible to the public.

CDFA workers will treat an area of approximately 9 square miles as part of this eradication effort. The treatment area is roughly bounded by Highland Avenue on the north, Monterey Road on the east, Hecker Pass Highway on the south, and Watsonville Road on the west.

The Oriental fruit fly is an exotic insect pest found throughout much of southern Asia. Currently, the distribution of this pest in the United States is restricted to the Hawaiian Islands. Oriental fruit fly is a pest of over 230 kinds of fruits and vegetables including citrus, grapes, stone fruits, pome fruits, avocado and tomato.

Infestations of Oriental fruit fly likely result from the introduction of contraband fruit. In the past few months, this invasive pest has also been found in the counties of Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego and San Mateo.