MEDFLY QUARANTINE SET IN MIRA MESA

Quarantine expanded to 304 square miles in San Diego County

SACRAMENTO, June 3, 2009 – Two additional Medflies have been trapped and larval properties have been detected in Mira Mesa, triggering a new eradication area that expands the current quarantine. The new quarantine area is approximately 106 square miles surrounding the Mira Mesa area, bringing the total quarantine to 304 square miles in San Diego County.

To date, 27 wild Medflies have been detected in the area, and Medfly larvae have been detected at two sites. The quarantine boundary map is available online at:
http://pi.cdfa.ca.gov/pqm/manual/pdf/maps/3406Med_Quar_MMesa09.pdf

An eradication program for the Medfly is already underway, consisting of releases of sterile male flies within a 13.3 square mile area. Ground treatment with organic spinosad will be made to properties within 200 meters of the detection site. Fruit stripping will also occur on infested properties within a 100 meter radius of the detection site.  Residents who are unsure if they are within the quarantine zone are asked to assume that they are within the zone, or call the pest hotline at 1-800-491-1899 for more information

Agricultural shipments from the quarantine zone are restricted by specific regulations designed to minimize movement of potentially infested commodities. In addition, people moving through the quarantine zone are urged not to remove fruits and vegetables from the area.

The quarantine requires that local residents not move homegrown fruits and vegetables from the property of origin. Residents may dispose of fruits and vegetables by double-bagging them and placing the bags in the garbage.

The Medfly can infest over 260 types of fruits and vegetables, causing severe impacts on California agricultural exports and backyard gardens. A permanent infestation would result in estimated annual losses of $1.3 to $1.8 billion.

More information about the program and a video on spinosad treatments may be found at http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/videos/spinosad/index.html

-30-