Medfly Menace: Quarantine Hits Santa Clara County
A quarantine has been put in place in part of Santa Clara County after two wild Mediterranean fruit flies (Medflies) were found in San José. These invasive pests pose a serious risk to fruits and vegetables, both in home gardens and on farms, because they lay larvae inside produce. If left unchecked, Medflies can spread quickly to other regions.
The quarantine covers about 109 square miles and aims to stop the movement of potentially infested produce. Growers, wholesalers, retailers, and local residents will all be affected by restrictions. Home gardeners are urged not to move homegrown fruit or vegetables off their property. However, residents may consume or process their produce on-site—by juicing, cooking, or grinding in a garbage disposal—or dispose of it by bagging, sealing, and placing it in the trash (not green waste).
To fight the outbreak, sterile male Medflies will be released at a rate of 250,000 per square mile each week across an 84.76-square-mile area. This proven method has successfully eradicated infestations in California before.
