Country: United States

Title:

Ceratitis capitata  (Mediterranean Fruit Fly): APHIS Expands Quarantine in Los Angeles County, California

Contact:
Richard Johnson, Fruit Fly National Policy Manager, at (301) 851-2109 or richard.n.johnson@usda.gov

Report:

On November 1, 2023, and again on November 7, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) expanded the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata or Medfly) quarantine in the Leimert Park area of Los Angeles County, California. This action is in response to the confirmed detections by CDFA of an unmated female Medfly on October 12 and a male Medfly on October 31, from traps in fruit trees in residential areas. As a result of these detections, the Leimert Park area quarantine increased by 21 square miles to 90 square miles. There is no commercial agriculture in the quarantine area.

APHIS and CDFA established the original Medfly quarantine on October 18 following the confirmed detection of two flies in the Leimert Park area on September 27. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement or entry into foreign trade of regulated articles from the area to prevent the spread of Medfly to non-infested areas of the United States. APHIS is working with CDFA and the Agricultural Commissioner of Los Angeles County to respond to these detections following program guidelines for survey, treatment, and regulatory actions.

The expansion of this quarantine area is reflected on the APHIS fruit fly website, which contains a description of all current federal fruit fly quarantine areas. APHIS will publish a notice of these changes in the Federal Register.

Under IPPC standards, Ceratitis capitata  is a transient pest under eradication that is present only in one area in California.  This species is not widely distributed and is under official control in the United States.

Posted Date: Nov. 21, 2023, 9:27 a.m.