Last week several specimens of the exotic pest, the Oriental Fruit Fly (OFF), were found in the City of Lakewood. Three OFF specimens were found on the same property in Lakewood on August 13, and since then, five other OFF specimens have been found in Lakewood.
In response to the recent OFF discoveries in and around Lakewood, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is employing a "male attractant" technique in parts of Lakewood, Bellflower, Long Beach, and along a border of Cerritos. This technique has proven successful in past instances of exotic fruit fly infestations and is designed to prevent the invasive pest from spreading and destroying commercial crops and home-grown fruits and vegetables. This technique presents no inconveniences to residents, and there are currently no aerial treatments planned.
Due to the high number of specimens found in Lakewood, a quarantine will be established. The quarantine puts restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables from or through the Lakewood area. Residents with any questions or concerns about the male attractant technique may contact the CDFA Pest Hotline at (800) 491-1899.
The Oriental Fruit Fly is one of the world’s most destructive insect pests. Mated female flies pierce the skins of hundreds of different fruits and vegetables and deposit eggs. After maggots hatch from the eggs, they feed on the flesh of the fruits and vegetables, rendering them unfit for consumption. Not native to California and not established in the state, the OFF originates from Southeast Asia and is now found in Hawaii and other Pacific Islands. A longstanding, continuous exotic pest exclusion and detection program has helped prevent this and many other pests from becoming established here and threatening California’s $32 billion agricultural industry.
To find out what is prohibited to bring into Los Angeles County, call
(562) 622-0426. Anyone who wants to transport fruits or plants into or out of Los Angeles County should call (562) 940-7803 to obtain additional information.