QUARANTINE SET IN ORANGE COUNTY FOR DIAPREPES ROOT WEEVIL

SACRAMENTO – A three-square mile quarantine zone has been established in Orange County due to an infestation of Diaprepes root weevil, an exotic pest that threatens more than 270 species of plants.

To date, Diaprepes root weevils have been detected at 14 locations in Newport Beach. Left unchecked, the weevils could damage a significant portion of California agriculture, including citrus, a favorite of the pest.

The quarantine zone includes northern and eastern portions of Newport Beach and the southwestern corner of Irvine.

Plants, green waste and soil are subject to restrictions on movement within and from the quarantine zone. Disposal options for green waste are currently being evaluated.

CDFA is also evaluating options for management of the weevil population. It may take 3-to-5 years to eradicate the pest

Diaprepes root weevils are native to the Caribbean. The pest has generally infested Florida and has also infested a part of Texas. Adult weevils feed on the leaves of plants, and their larvae plunge underground and feed on plant roots.

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