Quarantine Zone Expands in Southern California for More Exotic Fruit Fly Finds

Posted by Growing Produce Staff|September 5, 2023

Tau fruit fly (Photo: Pest and Diseases Image Library, Bugwood.org)

Have you seen the Zeugodacus tau fruit fly? USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service agents are reporting more findings of this invasive pest in Los Angeles County, expanding the current quarantine area. (Photo: Pest and Diseases Image Library, Bugwood.org)

Recently, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) expanded the Zeugodacus tau fruit fly quarantine in the Stevenson Ranch area of Los Angeles County, CA. This action is in response to the confirmed detections of 20 adult flies from various trapping sites in the Stevenson Ranch area by CDFA between August 2 and August 10. All were from traps in residential areas.

As a result of these detections, the Stevenson Ranch area quarantine increased by 26 square miles to 105 square miles. There is no commercial agriculture in the quarantine area.

APHIS and CDFA established the original Z. tau quarantine following the confirmed detection of nine flies from three trapping sites in the Stevenson Ranch area between June 7 and July 6. 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 Z. tau fruit fly to non-infested areas of the U.S.

In addition, APHIS is working with CDFA and the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commission to respond to these detections following program guidelines for survey, treatment, and regulatory response.