APHIS Expands Three Fruit Fly Quarantines in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, California

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION
DA-2023-28
December 1, 2023

Subject: APHIS Expands Three Fruit Fly Quarantines in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, California

To: State, Territory, and Tribal Agricultural Regulatory Officials

On November 15, 2023, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) expanded a Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata; Medfly) quarantine and a Zeugodacus tau fruit fly quarantine in Los Angeles County. Furthermore, on November 21, APHIS and CDFA expanded a Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni; QFF) quarantine in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.

The expansion of the Medfly quarantine is in response to the confirmed detection of an unmated female Medfly by CDFA on November 8, from a trap in an avocado tree in a residential area. As a result of this detection, the Leimert Park area quarantine increased by 8 square miles to 98 square miles. 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, and expanded the quarantine on November 1 and November 7 following detections of additional flies. There is no commercial agriculture in the quarantine area.

The expansion of the Z. tau quarantine is in response to the confirmed detection of two adult male Z. tau by CDFA on November 4, from traps in ornamental trees in residential areas. As a results of these detections, the Stevenson Ranch area quarantine increased by 18 square miles to 128 square miles. APHIS and CDFA established the original Z. tau quarantine on July 11 following the confirmed detection of nine flies in the Stevenson Ranch area between June 7 and July 6, and expanded the quarantine on August 15, September 14, and October 3 following detections of additional flies. There is no commercial agriculture in the quarantine area.

The expansion of the QFF quarantine is in response to the confirmed detection of an adult male QFF by CDFA on November 13, from a trap in an ornamental tree in a residential area. As a result of this detection, the Thousand Oaks area quarantine increased by 14 square miles to 90 square miles. APHIS and CDFA established the original QFF quarantine on October 18 following the confirmed detection of two flies in the Thousand Oaks area on August 23 and October 9. There are a total of 3,379 acres of commercial citrus, avocado, stone fruits, and berries in the quarantine area.

APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread of Medfly, Z. tau, and QFF to non-infested areas of the United States, as well as to prevent the entry of these fruit flies into foreign trade. APHIS is working with CDFA and the Agricultural Commissioners of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties to respond to these detections following program guidelines for survey, treatment, and regulatory actions.

These quarantine expansions are 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.

For additional information on the quarantine areas, please contact Fruit Fly National Policy Manager Richard Johnson at 301-851-2109 or richard.n.johnson@usda.gov.

/s/

Dr. Mark L Davidson
Deputy Administrator
Plant Protection and Quarantine