View Photo Gallery BY MICHAEL J. WILLIAMS Email Article The recent discovery of Mediterranean fruit flies in Perris – leading to a quarantine in the area – marked the first time the pest has been detected in Riverside County in 16 years, a county official said Friday. Agricultural Commissioner John Snyder said measures taken by the state to control and eradicate the insects, commonly called Medflies, should minimize the effects, especially since the infestation is occurring in a mostly urbanized setting without commercial groves. “We have been lucky historically,” Snyder said. “We don’t seem to get the number of Mediterranean fruit flies and other exotic fruit flies that other counties get for whatever reason.” The California Department of Food and Agriculture this week announced the 83-square-mile quarantine zone blanketing most of Perris. The quarantine stems from the discovery of nine male and three mated female Medflies as well as nine larvae. Snyder said they were found in an area east of the Interstate 215-Nuevo Road junction. Typically, impregnated females burrow into citrus fruit and lay eggs, which hatch into larvae, ruining the fruit. The larvae morph into pupae, then mature into flies, expanding the infestation. To combat the pest, authorities are using the historically successful formula of releasing sterile male flies to mate with females until the population eventually dies out. About 250,000 flies will be released per square mile per week, starting last week. The release will occur within a 13-square-mile area surrounding the infestation. Properties within 200 meters of the detected flies will be treated with an organic pesticide, Spinosad, to eliminate mated females and reduce the fly population. Fruit will be removed within 100 meters of the infested fruit, according to a statement from the state. CDFA spokesman Josh Eddy said that through Dec. 30, 593 properties were treated, and fruit had been removed from 101 properties. Snyder said the quarantine, which prohibits fruit from being moved outside of the affected area, probably will last into July or August – depending on weather – which causes variances in reproductive rates. “At this point, the good news is that this is not an agricultural area,” he said. “The main impact is to homeowners with fruit trees in the core area.” Among a handful of Perris area residents contacted about the quarantine Friday, only one said he was aware of it. Brendan Marshall, 31, said he is concerned because he has lemon trees on his property. “I don’t want my kids grabbing (infested) fruit off my trees and eating them,” he said. Contact the writer: 951-368-9690 or michaelwilliams@pe FRUIT FLY QUARANTINE Why: Mediterranean fruit flies were discovered in Perris What: Fruit grown within the quarantine area must be confined there to prevent the spread of the flies Where: 83-square-mile zone encompassing Perris and some adjacent areas When: Quarantine announced Dec. 31 to last until July or August Response: • Release of sterile male Medflies to mate with females until population dies off • Treatment of properties within 200 meters of infestation with organic pesticide • Removal of fruit within 100 meters of the infestation
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 06:36:40 +0000
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