The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Yolo County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, and the Sacramento County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office have succeeded in eradicating an oriental fruit fly infestation in the southern part of the city of Sacramento, ending a 123-square-mile quarantine that began August 28, 2018. A total of 15 male flies and one female fly were detected.
Following the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), CDFA primarily used the “male attractant” technique to eradicate this pest. Trained workers squirt a small patch of fly attractant mixed with a very small dose of pesticide approximately 8-10 feet off the ground on street trees and similar surfaces; male fruit flies are attracted to the mixture and perish after consuming it. This approach has successfully eliminated dozens of fruit fly infestations in California over the last several decades.
CDFA, the USDA, the Yolo County Agricultural Commissioner, and the Sacramento County Agricultural Commissioner acknowledge and thank local area residents and businesses for their cooperation in preventing the movement of backyard fruit and allowing property access to perform critical eradication activities.
Source: agnetwest.com
