Infected Citrus Pest That Spreads Disease Found in Ventura County

New Invasive Species Arrives in California

Tau fruit fly has been detected in Los Angeles county, quarantine now in place
This the first Tau fruit fly quarantine ever in the Western Hemisphere. (Photo: Fan Gao, Courtesy CDFA)
SACRAMENTO — A portion of Los Angeles County has been placed under quarantine for the Tau fruit fly (Zeugodacus tau group) following the detection of more than 20 flies in the unincorporated area of Stevenson Ranch, near the city of Santa Clarita.
The quarantine area measures 79 square miles, bordered on the north by Castaic Junction; on the south by Oat Mountain; on the west by Del Valle; and on the east by Honby Ave. A link to the quarantine map may be found here: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/
This the first Tau fruit fly quarantine ever in the Western Hemisphere. The fly is native to Asia and is a serious pest for agriculture and natural resources, with a very wide host range, including numerous fruits and vegetables as well as a select range of native plants in California.
It’s believed the fly was introduced by travelers bringing uninspected produce into the state — a common pathway for invasive species.
To prevent the spread of this invasive species, residents living in the quarantine area are urged not to move any fruits and vegetables from their property. They may be consumed or processed (i.e. juiced, frozen, cooked, or ground in the garbage disposal) at the property where they were picked. Otherwise, they should be disposed-of by double-bagging in plastic and placing the bags in a bin specifically for garbage.
Following the principles of Integrated Pest Management, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, working in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner, will utilize a multi-tiered approach to eliminate the Tau fruit fly and prevent its spread to new areas. On properties within 200 meters of detections, staff will cut host fruit and vegetables to inspect for any fruit fly larvae that may be present. Additionally, properties within 200 meters of detections will be treated with a naturally derived organic-approved material known as Spinosad, which will help remove any live adult fruit flies and reduce the density of the population. Finally, fly traps that incorporate a pheromone lure and a minute amount of pesticide will be used in a wider part of the treatment area.
Further information about this invasive species is available online at: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/
Article courtesy of Morning Ag Clips
Original URL: https://www.morningagclips.com/new-invasive-species-arrives-in-california/
New Partnership with Almond Board of California

CAPCA is excited to announce a new partnership with the Almond Board of California (ABC) to provide timely information, education and resources to PCAs. In 2021, you will see ABC providing the following to Nut Crop team members and CAPCA members:
- Technical articles on a variety of production topics
- Consistent, timely updates to Nut Crop Team members
- Continuing Education hosted by CAPCACE.com – “The Status of Herbicide Resistance in California and Finding Success with Soil Moisture Monitoring” coming early 2021
- Dedicated Educational Breakout on Almonds at the CAPCA Conference
Visit Almonds.com/PCATools to learn about PCA’s vital role in supporting the industry’s progress toward this goal.
For questions about what industry support may look like, contact the Almond Board’s Field Outreach and Education team at fieldoutreach@almondboard.com.
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