So this is National Invasive Species Awareness Week (February 21-27, 2016) [also see ] and it looks like there's a new pest in town. Hello Malaysian Fruit Fly. Hopefully we will say goodbye soon. You can see some information about it here.
Subject: APHIS Establishes Malaysian Fruit Fly (Bactrocera latifrons) Regulated Area in Westchester, Los Angeles County, California
Effective January 8, 2016, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established a Malaysian fruit fly regulated area in Westchester, Los Angeles County, California. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement or entry into foreign trade of regulated articles from this area. This is the first continental U.S. quarantine for this species.
APHIS is responding to this confirmed detection with the establishment of a new regulated area, which encompasses approximately 74 square miles of Los Angeles County.
The Malaysian fruit fly, also known as the Solanum or Solanaceous fruit fly, is an economically important insect pest of plants of the nightshade family (Solanaceae). The fly is a native of south and southeast Asia. It has been found in the west African countries of Tanzania and Kenya, and it was first detected in Hawaii in 1983. The Malaysian fruit fly is primarily associated with wild and cultivated crops such as peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, and cucurbit species. This outbreak is considered to be transient, actionable, and under eradication.
APHIS is working with the CDFA, and the Agricultural Commissioner of Los Angeles County to respond to this detection following program survey and treatment protocols. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of Malaysian fruit fly to noninfested areas of the United States.
The establishment of this regulated area is reflected on the following designated website, which contains a description of all the current federal fruit fly regulated areas:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/ff-quarantine