Fruit flies cause quarantine

Three Mediterranean fruit flies were discovered in Fallbrook, prompting San Diego County agriculture officials Monday to announce that a quarantine area will be established.

The boundaries of the quarantine, which will restrict the movement of agricultural products, ae being developed by county and state agriculture officials.

Additionally officials are likely to expand an existing quarantine in Escondido, after three more Medflies were trapped there.

The expanded quarantine in Escondido is expected to be mapped and announced later this week.

“Our first concern is the protection of fruit production in these areas, both backyard and commercial agriculture,” said Robert Atkins, San Diego County’s agriculture commissioner. “Detection efforts and immediate treatments are going to help us safeguard local fruit.”

Agriculture officials have already begun treating both areas and homeowners and others are being asked not to remove potentially infested backyard fruits and vegetables. Medflies attack more than 260 types of fruits and vegetables.

Female Medflies lay eggs inside fruit, which hatch into maggots and tunnel through the flesh making it inedible. Quarantines are also in place in Mira Mesa and Imperial Beach, where Medflies have been detected.

This article was written and edited by City News Service.

Tags: san diego agriculture officials, san diego fruit flies, SDNN

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